Gajar ka Halwa / Carrot Halwa

Halwa (or halava, xalwo, haleweh, helwa, halvah, halava, helava, helva, halwa, halua, aluva, chalva, chalwa) refers to many types of dense, sweet confections, served across the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Malta and the Jewish world.

History of Carrot

The wild ancestors of the carrot are likely to have come from Iran and Afghanistan, which remains the center of diversity of D. Carota, the wild carrot. Selective breeding over the centuries of a naturally occurring subspecies of the wild carrot, Daucus carota subsp. sativus, to reduce bitterness, increase sweetness and minimize the woody core, has produced the familiar garden vegetable.

Gajar ka Halwa

Nutrient values

The carrot gets its characteristic and bright orange colour from ß-carotene, which is metabolised into vitamin A in humans when bile salts are present in the intestines. Massive overconsumption of carrots can cause carotenosis, a benign condition in which the skin turns orange. Carrots are also rich in dietary fibre, antioxidants, and minerals.
Lack of vitamin A can cause poor vision, including night vision, and vision can be restored by adding it back into the diet. An urban legend says eating large amounts of carrots will allow one to see in the dark. The legend developed from stories of British gunners in World War II, who were able to shoot down German planes in the darkness of night. The legend arose during the Battle of Britain when the RAF circulated a story about their pilots' carrot consumption as an attempt to cover up the discovery and effective use of radar technologies in engaging enemy planes, as well as the use of red light (which does not destroy night vision) in aircraft instruments. It reinforced existing German folklore and helped to encourage Britons—looking to improve their night vision during the blackouts—to grow and eat the vegetable.
Ethnomedically, the roots are used to treat digestive problems, intestinal parasites, and tonsillitis or constipation.

Ingredients

• 2 cups grated carrot
• 2 cups low fat milk
• 6 tbsp skimmed milk powder
• 3 gms sugarite or 4 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp cardamom (elaichi) powder

Method

• Combine the carrots with the milk and pressure cook for 2 whistles.
• Add the milk powder, SugaRite/sugar and cardamom powder and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, while stirring continuously.
• Serve hot.