Photo: Zero-X / Flickr

This halva recipe is based on the traditional Indian halva sweetmeats, which are mostly made for festive occasions. The major ingredient is grated carrot, which is cooked with almond nuts, sugar and milk. Sultanas, dates, crushed cardamom seeds and vanilla essence are then added, allowing for a rich and tasty dessert. Serve it warm with cream or leave it to cool before refrigerating. Allow a preparation time of half an hour and a cooking time of an hour and 20 minutes.

Ingredients

To make carrot, fruit and nut halva for six, you will need the following ingredients: 75 grams of butter, 7 peeled and grated carrots (of a medium size), 2 tablespoons of roughly chopped almonds, 40 grams of sugar, 4 cups of milk, 2 tablespoons of sultanas, 5 pitted and sliced dates, 1 teaspoon of crushed cardamom seeds and a quarter of a teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Method

Place the butter into a heavy based saucepan and allow it to melt on a medium heat. Add the grated carrots and roughly chopped almonds. Stir the ingredients by tossing them lightly for 10 minutes. Add the milk and the sugar and stir again. Allow the mixture to simmer on a medium heat for an hour. Stir occasionally but don’t cover the saucepan.

Once the liquid has reduced, add the cardamom seeds, vanilla essence, dates and sultanas. Stir the ingredients together and simmer on a low heat for another 10 minutes. When the texture of the halva dessert is moist and grainy, it will be ready to serve.

Warm up one large bowl or six individual bowls and spoon the halva dessert into the serving bowl or bowls. Whip up some fresh cream and serve alongside the dessert. Otherwise spoon the fresh cream onto the warm carrot, fruit and nut halva dessert.

Tags: desserts, recipes