You may have seen this vibrant orange dessert served at your favorite Indian restaurant. This carrot halwa dessert usually requires standing over the stove for a long period of time ensure the perfect color, texture and balance of flavors. Thanks to this Instant Pot recipe, you will have the perfect carrot halwa to serve your family and friends this Diwali in a matter of minutes!
Carrot Halwa
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Serves: 5-6
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons ghee
- 1 cup sugar
- Handful cashews
- Handful raisins
- Handful of sliced/slivered almonds
- 1 tablespoon ground cardamom powder
- 6-8 medium OR 4 very large carrots grated (about 2.2 lbs)
- 1 cup milk
- 3-5 whole green cardamom pods (green elaichi)
- ½ cup khoya* or mawa (see variations)
- Optional garnish: extra cashews, sliced almonds, ground cardamom powder
Instructions
- Turn on InstantPot to SAUTE mode and wait until the display reads “HOT”
- Add ghee to the pot
- Add cashews, raisins, almonds to the ghee and stir well
- Close the pot with your glass lid and allow cashews, raisins and almonds to slightly brown
- Remove the browned cashews, raisins and almonds from the pot and set aside in a bowl
- Add the grated carrots (I grated mine in a food processor)
- Add the whole cardamom pods to the carrots and stir well
- Close the pot with your glass lid and allow carrots to cook for 2-3 minutes
- Add in the browned cashews, raisins and almonds, khoya* (mawa), milk and cardamom powder
- Stir well to incorporate all ingredients
- Place lid on pot and lock
- Close vent on lid to prevent steam from escaping
- Press CANCEL to turn off Saute mode
- Press MANUAL to set pot to Manual mode
- Set to HIGH PRESSURE
- Set timer to 7 minutes
- Manually release steam by opening vent on the lid (BE CAREFUL OF THE HOT STEAM)
- Open the lid
- Turn on Instant Pot to SAUTE mode
- Add the sugar to the carrot mixture
- Stir well to incorporate sugar
- Allow halwa to saute until almost all of the water has evaporated and you have a thick halwa (about 8-10 mins)
- Press CANCEL to turn off Saute mode
- Remove halwa from the Instant Pot to your favorite serving dish and garnish with cashews, almonds and extra cardamom powder if desired.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
You may omit the raisins, cashews, almonds or cardamon based on personal preference.
*If you do not have khoya (mawa), you can use the same quantity of milk powder.
VEGAN VARIATION: Use almond milk instead of the milk; use coconut oil instead of ghee and use almond meal instead of the khoya.
*If you do not have khoya (mawa), you can use the same quantity of milk powder.
VEGAN VARIATION: Use almond milk instead of the milk; use coconut oil instead of ghee and use almond meal instead of the khoya.
