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Beetroot halwa is the louder, brighter cousin of Gajar ka Halwa. The preparation process for beetroot halwa starts with the prime ingredient: beetroot.
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Wash and peel 500 gms of fresh beetroot, removing dirt or skin.
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Now, grate the beetroot with a medium grater so that the vegetable cooks quickly and is infused with milk and sugar flavours.
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Start by taking a heavy-bottomed pan and adding two tablespoons of ghee over a medium flame.
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Once the ghee is hot, add the grated beetroot to the pan and saut it for about 8-10 minutes.
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As you stir, the raw, earthy smell will be gone and begin to soften into an all-over vibrant red colour. It's during this saut ing that the beetroot picks up its sweetness naturally and prepares itself to soak in all the flavours the milk and sugar will introduce.
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Once the beetroot is softened, add 1 litre of full-fat milk, stirring very well to dissolve the beetroot into the milk. Bring the milk to a soft boil, then reduce the heat to medium. Let it cook while occasionally stirring up the bottom so that the mixture doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
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This is the stage where the milk begins to evaporate and thicken slowly.
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Once the milk has reduced to half, add 200 gms of sugar to it. Stir well so that all the sugar dissolves perfectly into the liquid mixture.
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Carry on stirring the mixture further for another 10 to 15 minutes.
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Now that halwa is thickening, let's prepare the garnish. Heat one tablespoon of ghee in a separate small pan on medium flame. Once the ghee heats up, add 10-12 cashews and 10-12 raisins.
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Fry them until they turn golden brown and give a nutty flavour.
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Cashews will add crunchiness, while the raisins will add a sweet touch. Once roasted, add them to a beetroot halwa mixture made with 1/2 Tsp of cardamom powder.
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Stir well and cook for 2-3 minutes more, allowing the flavours to merge before you switch off the flame.
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Serve with your beetroot halwa. You can have it straight from the pan, warm it, or refrigerate it to be served later. Garnish with slivered almonds or pistachios to serve.