I stumbled upon this recipe on the website Food 52.com. This method of baking “Gajjar Halwa” made it even quicker than the previous recipe I posted last year. These bars turned out delicious and also tasted a bit less sweet.
The bars can also be made and frozen which is convenient since this recipe makes quite a large portion!
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups shredded carrots
1/2 cup whole milk
5 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
0ne 14-ounce can Condensed milk
8 tablespoons butter, melted
1/8 teaspoon cardamom powder (5 pods)
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg grated (optional)
1/2 cup slivered almonds
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13″x 10″ baking pan.
Sift the flour and baking powder and place in a large bowl, making a well.
Combine the carrots, milk, sugar and raisins in a large bowl and microwave for about 5 minutes until the carrots are soft.
Add the melted butter, cardamom powder and nutmeg to the carrot mixture.
Pour the carrot mixture into the middle of the flour and gently fold the mixture from outside to the middle.
Do not over mix as you can cause the gluten to develop resulting in a tough leathery mixture.
Spread evenly on the greased cookie sheet. Top with slivered almonds.
Bake for 20 minutes until the top is golden brown.
Cool and cut into squares. Can be frozen for a month.
Ingredients
This year Diwali or Deepavali (as it is called in the southern part of India) is celebrated on October 23. The “Festival of Light” changes every year according to the Lunar calendar, and is typically the darkest, new moon night. The festival signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. Diyas (traditional earthenware oil lamps) or candles are lit around the home and a puja or prayer to Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth and prosperity- is offered.
Viji's Kitchen 