The International Carrot Day is celebrated on April 4and when you hear the word carrot, the first thing which comes to every India’s mind is Gajar ka Halwa and who does not want to try it out. Carrot Day was founded in 2003 to spread knowledge about the carrot and its good attributes around the world.
Carrot has many benefits and it is a good source of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and antioxidants. It also has the benefit of losing weight and is linked to lower cholesterol levels to improve eye health.
From Carrot cookies to Gajar Ka Halwa, here are some delicious dessert you can try that can be made easily with carrot:
Carrot Cake Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350º and line a baking sheet with parchment. In a bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs, one at a time, until incorporated, then add vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture until well-combined.
- Stir in carrots, coconut, raisins, and oats and mix until just combined.
- Scoop 1” rounds of dough onto a baking sheet. Bake until golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool.
- Make the glaze: Beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until combined. Drizzle glaze over each cookie and let harden before serving.
Gajar Ka Halwa
- Roast the cashew nuts and set aside for the garnish.
- Boil the milk on medium-high heat in a non-stick pan until it is reduced to about to 1 cup. Stir often to ensure the milk does not burn in the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a frying pan on medium heat. Add the shredded carrots and stir-fry for about seven to eight minutes. Carrots should be tender and slightly changed in color.
- Add the milk and cook until the milk dries. This will take about eight to ten minutes.
- Next, add the sugar, and cardamom powder and stir-fry for another three to four minutes until the halwa starts to leave the side of the frying pan.
- Garnish with cashew nuts.
