Festival Recipes, Indian Sweets

Gajar – Lauki Halwa (no-ghee version) – a step by step recipe | Diwali Sweet recipe

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I was honestly tired of making Gajar Halwa – although its a family favourite, it was nearing its expiry date in terms of being the first choice for festivals / quick desserts for unexpected guests / luncheons / potluck parties. As a family, we are also quite conscious about how much oil and sugar we consume . So, when I saw a nice fresh lauki (bottle gourd) peeking from the pantry, I quickly rustled up this Gajar and Lauki Halwa (adapted from my bookmark here) for the Diwali festival, where we had some friends dropping in. And voila ! It was guilt free too (to an extent) as I didnt use ghee at all, but some mawa (unsweetened solidified milk fudge). For sweet lovers, i would recommend they up the sugar a bit more , but for my family and those who dropped in –  it was the perfect taste. Hope you would also make this dish for your family and enjoy the mild sweetness with a hint of sugar and saffron and crunchy fried nuts to complete that divine experience.  I served this with a Mixed Bhajia platter to the guests for a quick evening snack, and the combo was enthusiastically received 🙂

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Sending this quick dish to:  

Blogging Marathon (Day 3), Radhika’s Diwali event, Khushi’s My Diwali My WayAnu’s Diwali – festival of lights, Krithi and Denny’s Serve It Festival Potluck, Pari’s Only Sweets & Desserts hosted by Gayathri & also to Priya & Aipi’s Tuesday’s bookmarked recipes.

Check out my fellow marathoners here

See other Indian Sweets here

Prep time : 10 mins. Cooking time : 15 mins. Serves : 4

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Ingredients: 

  • Carrots – 2 large
  • Lauki / bottle gourd – 1 medium
  • Mawa / condensed unsweetened milk fudge – 2 TBSP
  • Sugar – 3 TBSP
  • Condensed Milk – 3 TBSP
  • Milk – 1/4 cup
  • Saffron – a few strands
  • Cardamom – 1 no.
  • Almonds / raisins / Cashew for garnish

Method:

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1) Wash, peel and grate carrots and bottle gourd finely. Place the veggies in a deep bottomed vessel. Add the milk and pressure cook for 3 whistles. Cool and drain all the water from cooked veggies.

2) Powder the sugar with cardamom in a spice grinder.

3) In a thick non stick pan, add the boiled veggies and half the mawa and stir continuously on a slow flame. 

4) When the halwa reduces by 1/4 or 1/3, add the powdered sugar and stir again on a low- medium flame. Once the sugar melts and the oil (from the mawa) begins to separate, add the remaining mawa and give it a vigorous stir for 5 – 7 mins (get those arm muscles moving :-)). 

5) Now add the saffron and the nuts (if you wish, you may lightly fry the raisins in just a drop of ghee) and serve warm. This halwa goes very well with a plate of mixed hot bhajias

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25 Comments

  1. Yummy halwa.. Looks yummy..

  2. That's a nice combo and a very happy diwali to u and ur family Kalyani.

  3. Aruna Manikandan

    looks yummy….
    Have a wonderful Diwali 🙂

  4. vaishali sabnani

    super combo…loving the halwa

  5. The Pumpkin Farm

    thats good combination, makes it non seasonal as well

  6. Nice one .. love the combo.

    Vardhini
    Event: Halloween Fiesta

  7. Gayathri Kumar

    Yummy halwa looks so colourful…

  8. Priya Suresh

    Super tempting halwa, cant believe its ghee free..delicious!

  9. Happy diwali …
    Wow looks yummy and delicious ….

  10. Thanks a lovely one!..Happy Diwali Kalyani.

  11. MyKitchen Flavors-BonAppetit!.

    Ghee-free Healthy Carrot Halwa.I can eat a plateful then.Luv it.Dear Blogger Friend,Wish U a Warm and Happy Diwali.Enjoy the Festivities with taste-filled delights,Safe and Delicious Memorable Moments – Regards, Christy Gerald

  12. It is really a treat for Diwali. Happy Diwali Kalyani!!!

    Cheers,
    Uma
    My Kitchen Experiments

  13. Voww!!! halwa looks real yummm!!!!

  14. A delightful and a colorful Halwa for Diwali!! Have a good one!

  15. Lavanya Selvaraj

    Lovely halwa… Wish you a very happy Diwali.

    -Lavanya
    My Recent Post: Boondhi Ladoo

    My Recent Post: Kaara Boondhi

  16. My God,that's too tempting.SO colourful with saffron..Yum yum.

    Happy Deewali to you and family !

  17. Looks great Kalyani.. Love the saffron colors! Happy Diwali

  18. Sensible Vegetarian

    Yummy and delicious. Happy Deepavali to you and your family.

  19. no ghee then it surely is a hit!…good one…ya carrot halwa sure gets boring after a while! 🙂

  20. very very inviting Kalyani!!!!!drooling here:-)

  21. Yummy halwa…

  22. Suma Gandlur

    Yummy halwa. BTW, I didn't know that this many festive food themed events are going on. 🙂

  23. Cool Lassi(e)

    Lovely color and lovely mouth-watering halwa!

  24. Looks vibrant and very tempting…

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