12th February 2018

THE METRONOME/ BLOG POST 25

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Somewhere towards the end of winter, all the Badam Trees in and around Mumbai go through their own Fall phase for about a week, turning all shades of red and crimson for a few days before shedding off their leaves - and I was looking for a recipe that I could colour coordinate with the leaves of the Badam Tree outside the window where I shoot. Gajar Halwa, made with new seasonal carrots, was the obvious choice, of course. 

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Fresh creamy Gajar ka Halwa can beat chocolates for me, any day - and this is the recipe my Mom uses to make this mouth watering North Indian dessert for me whenever I visit her in Winter - its better than any store bought version I've tasted. The Khoya in the recipe can actually be replaced with condensed milk or full cream milk or even crushed milk pedas - as long as one remembers to adjust the quantities of sugar and the time required for stirring proportionately. And of course, while the red juicy winter carrots make the best halwa, one can make this with other varieties of carrots as well. 

 

SONG AND VIDEO CREDITS :

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Song written, composed, performed and produced by Sawan Dutta

Video created by C.B.Arun Kumar and Sawan Dutta 

Recipe sourced by Sawan from her mom, Mrs. Swapna Dutta

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SONG LYRICS : 

There's red red carrots in the market

They're headed for my kitchen you can bet! 

From the red red carrots I'm going to get

Gajar Halwa oh oh oh oh

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Grate all the carrots ( 4 - 5, about half a kilo )

Heat up the ghee ( 2 tbsp ) 

Saute the cardamom ( 4 ), the dry fruits ( cashew, raisins ) 

Very gently

Add all the carrot, stir for some time

Now add the khoya (1/2 cup ) and the sugar ( to taste/ 4 tbsp)

It smells sublime

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Stir till its thick and creamy as sin

Go on, take a spoonful, dig right in

Whichever part of the world you live in, 

Gajar Halwa oh oh oh oh

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That's how my Mom makes it for me

When i visit her in winter randomly

She knows just how I like it you see, 

Gajar Halwa oh oh oh oh Gajar Halwa

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