Gajar Lauki Halwa

There is Gajar halwa, there is Lauki Halwa. This halwa I made has both Carrots and Bottle gourd in it and it is awesome. The process is exactly the same but the combination of both carrots and bottle gourd gives it a different texture and a different taste.
So here you go

Gajar Lauki Halwa (Bottle gourd and carrot dessert) 

Gaajar Lauki Halwa

Ingredients:

1. 3 medium sized carrots peeled and grated with the finest grater you have
2. 1 medium small bottle gourd, peeled, cored and grated or chopped very fine
3. 1/2 cup sugar
4. 1/2 cup heavy cream
5. 1 teaspoon rose water or 2 cardamom
6. 1 tablespoon butter or clarified butter (ghee)
7. 1 teaspoon each of raisins, chopped almonds and cashew and charoli (Chiranji) fried in 2 teaspoons ghee

In a heavy bottomed pan heat the ghee and add the grated carrot and bottle gourd and stir well. Reduce heat to medium and cover and cook for 30-40 minutes.  Add sugar and cook till it melts.  Add heavy cream and cardamom or rose water and stir to combine. Simmer till the water in the cream evaporates. Add the fried nuts and raisins and serve warm or cold

Carrot Beet Root Halwa

I needed to make a sweet dish and I didn't have much in my refrigerator because we had just come back from the vacation. I wanted to make Gajar ka Halwa but all I had were 3 medium sized carrots. That wouldn't make enough halwa for everyone. So I was looking for something else to make the sweet dish and I found a can of Beet Root. And thus the Gajar aur Chukandar ka Halwa. This is so yummy and a sneaky way to smuggle some beets into your kids tummy.

Carrot Beet Root Halwa 

Gajar ka halwa Chukandar ke saath

Ingredients:

1. 3 medium sized carrots peeled and grated with the finest grater you have
2. 1 can beet roots drained and ground into coarse paste
3. 1/2-3/4 cup sugar
4. 1/2 cup heavy cream
5. 2 cardamom pounded
6. 1/2 tablespoon butter or clarified butter (ghee)
7. 1 teaspoon each of raisins, chopped almonds and cashew fried in 2 teaspoons ghee

In a heavy bottomed pan heat the ghee and add the grated carrot and stir well. Reduce heat to medium and cover and cook for 10-12 minutes. Add beet root paste and stir to combine. Cook further for 10 minutes. Add sugar and cook till it melts. Check if the carrots are tender to your taste or cook a bit longer. Add heavy cream and cardamom and stir to combine. Simmer till the water in the cream evaporates. Add the fried nuts and raisins and serve warm or cold