This delicious Gajar Halwa (Indian carrot pudding) is made in the Instant Pot and is flavored with ghee, cardamom, nuts and raisins! Best enjoyed warm!
500gramscarrotsgrated, 3 heaping cups grated carrots, around 8 large carrots
3/4cupwhole milk6 oz
1/2cupgranulated white sugar100 grams
1/4cupmilk powder25 grams, optional but recommended
1/4teaspooncardamom powder
Instructions
Grate the carrots and set them aside. I highly recommend grating the carrot by hands and not use a food processor for the halwa. It's important for the texture.
Press the sauté button on your Instant Pot. Once it displays hot, add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of ghee to it. Add the cashews and raisins to the pot and fry for a minute until they turn golden brown in color (raisins will plump up). Remove the cashews and raisin from the pot.
To the pot now add the grated carrots. Sauté the carrots for 2 minutes.
Then add whole milk, stir and and close the pot with its lid. Press the pressure cook/manual button and cook on high pressure for 4 mins, with the pressure valve in the sealing position.
Let the pressure release naturally for 2 minutes and then do a quick pressure release by manually moving the pressure valve from the sealing to venting position.
Open the pot and give the halwa a stir. And then press the sauté button and add in the sugar.
Keep stirring, after 3 minutes of stirring the sugar, add the milk powder. You may also use mawa (dried milk solids) or almond meal in place of the milk powder.
Continue to stir for 4 more minutes until the liquid dries out. So after adding the sugar you would have stirred for around 7 minutes by this point. Then add the remaining 1.5 tablespoons (22 ml) ghee to the halwa and mix.
Continue to roast the carrots on sauté mode with the ghee for around 8 to 9 minutes more. Be patient, it takes a little time but is worth it. You will notice the color of the halwa changing to a darker shade of red. This roasting is important for the flavor and color.
Then add the cardamom powder and mix. Stir in the fried cashews and raisins back into the pot. Stir and unplug the pot. Garnish the gajar halwa with more nuts and serve warm!