Beetroot Halwa

Last week as I was cleaning my refrigerator and guess what I found 6-7 ripe, pre-cooked beets. Ok you might ask me why did I get it, hmmm in the idea of having it one a day but somehow I kept skipping it. Well time had come for me to use up the beets and the first thing that popped in my mind was Beetroot Halwa and I did gets loads of suggestions from friends on what to do with them. So I am thinking of trying one recipe a week till I finish them up. Somehow this post seems to co-ordinate with Valentine's Day as it has a lovely dose of a gorgeous red color and being a dessert it sure ticks the cards.

I tried to substitute sugar with jaggery, you can use sugar. But this is great when chilled along with ice cream, yummers!!! you have to try it to know how good it is.

Recipe Source ~ own

Prep & cook time ~ 40 mins

Serves - 2 generously

Ingredients

Beets - 4 medium, grated, 2 cups approx (pre-cooked) *check notes if you are using raw beets

Milk - 1 cup (I used fat free)

Jaggery - 1 cup

Cardamom powder - generous pinch (I skipped this)

Nuts - to decorate (optional)

Ghee - 1 tbsp

Method

• In a deep non stick pan, heat ghee and fry the precooked shredded beets, keep frying till it releases a lovely aroma around 5-6 minutes.
• Slowly start adding the milk and let it evaporate and get thick in medium flame stirring occasionally. It would take close to 10 mins or more for the milk to fully evaporate
• Now start adding the jaggery and let it melt and keep stirring until well combined, check for sweetness and let it cook for further 5 minutes.
• Switch off and add the cardamom powder, combine well and let it cool down a bit before serving

Serve hot/ cold as per your liking and enjoy the luscious Indian dessert 

Cooks Wisdom 

- If using uncooked beets grate them and add to a pressure cooker along with milk cook for 1-2 whistles and simmer adding the ghee

- I used jaggery you can also use sugar. The jaggery i used is free from impurities so it reduced the hazzle of melting it and straining

- Adding cardamom is optional, if you don't like the taste skip it

- Adding nuts is also optional

Check out my Valentine Burfi HERE