This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
Vegan Carrot Halwa Recipe. Gajar Ka Halwa is a a dessert made with shredded carrots that are roasted with non dairy milk and cardamom to make a sweet melt in your mouth dessert. Gajar Halwa tastes like a moist cardamom Carrot Cake crumble. Vegan Gluten-free Soy-free Recipe. Pin it for later.
Carrot halwa is an amazing dessert that tastes like a roasted carrot cake. It has many versions depending on the region. Some recipes cook the carrots for long, while some cook to tender. Some are fudgier or wetter while some cook till carrots get candied. My Mom makes her Gajar Ka Halwa with deep red carrots. She usually would start making it in the morning with loads of carrots and ghee (clarified butter) or oil and cream or khoya(milk solids) and continues to roast it into the evening, until the carrots are a dark red brown. Some roasted nuts and dried fruits are mixed in along with flavors such as cardamom or saffron. Carrots get roasted and somewhat caramelized. The added richness from the butter and khoya make it is pleasing melt in your mouth dessert. For Instant Pot Carrot Halwa, see here.
My version is quicker and, of course, minus the dairy that is unfortunately present in many Indian desserts. It is equally delicious, uses less oil and needs just 15 minutes of active time. The rest is just letting the carrots cook over low heat. I use non dairy milk, a little bit of oil and almond meal to replace the dairy ingredients. You can use pumpkin seed meal and other non dairy milk of choice. This festive season, make this Carrot Halwa, Cashew fudge (kaju katli), any of the Vegan Burfis, Gulab Jamun, Ladoo Balls and more, without dairy. Ganpati Bappa would love that too. Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!
India is the largest exporter of Beef and Veal in the world, without having a single beef lot or any cattle raised for beef or veal. The dairy industry alone is enough to produce the millions of tonnes of exported Beef and Veal.
This in spite of cow slaughter being banned in certain regions(because of vegetarianism related to religion), which leads to cattle being illegally transported without food or water to the illegal slaughter houses in other states. 10’s of millions of baby male calves as young as a few days old are discarded/killed as a side effect of the dairy industry. Whenever someone mentions that I should take just a bite of the dairy desserts (to celebrate whichever event/festival), I see the pain of those babies and moms in that bite.
Just think about those numbers, 2.4 Million Tonnes of beef and veal are exported each year, almost all of which comes from spent dairy female cows and baby male calfs 38500000 per year, that is 105900 per day, 4390 per hour. This much suffering for something as fleeting as taste, is difficult to understand, also because the same tastes and textures can be found in alternate ingredients. Many shops also have vegan options available if you ask to hold the dairy. Let this easy Vegan Carrot Halwa prove that the joy of the festival, all the memories, will be the same with equally delicious Vegan Indian sweets.
This recipe is adapted from my cookbook Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen (which is available in print and digital from any online bookstore in many countries).
You can make the halwa nut-free by omitting the cashews and using pumpkin seed meal instead of almond meal and coconut milk instead of almond milk. You can also make beet halwa using the same recipe but with grated beetroot. To make oil-free, omit the oil and use a non stick pan.
Vegan Carrot Halwa Gajar Halwa Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons safflower or other neutral oil
- 3 tablespoons chopped or halved raw cashews
- 2 tablespoons raisins
- 2 tablespoons chopped pistachios
- 2 1/2 cups or more grated or shredded carrots
- 1/4 cup almond meal or coarsely ground almonds
- 1 1/4 cup almond milk
- 1/4 cup ground raw sugar
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter or safflower oil
- Generous pinch of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder or saffron strands
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cashews and cook until lightly golden, 2 minutes. Add raisins and pistachios and cook until the raisins puff up, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the grated carrots to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add almond meal and almond milk and mix well. Reduce heat to low-medium. Cook for 15 minutes.
- Add sugar, vegan butter, salt, and cardamom. Mix in. Cook for another 20 to 30 minutes or until all the almond milk has almost been absorbed. Depends on the moisture in the carrots and the stove. Stir occasionally.
- Taste and adjust sweet. Continue to cook for another few minutes or until roasted to desired consistency and color. Serve warm or chilled.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I had this dessert years ago at Sivananda Yoga Centre in London but it was made with raw finely shredded carrots still crunchy, then soaked in warm almond milk with spices, sultana and nuts. I thought it was really good and healthy. I will try this version too!
They might have a raw version. Traditionally gajar halwa is roasted for a long time to make it like candied shredded carrots. there are several variations depending on regions and family recipes such as pressure cooked halwa, or just cooked to al dente etc and personal interpretations.
Hi Richa!
I am following your recipes from long time and they are awesome.
I want to ask, can i use coconut cream which one can buy in Asian stores? They usually have above 20g of fat. Because usually coconut milk or almond milk which we get in Germany does not contain too much fat % to get the richness in carrot Halwa.
Whenever I cook tofu, broccoli curry with all the spices and with coconut cream, if I cook it more than few minutes, the milk losses its taste and consistency. Hence I am afraid to use same coconut cream for this sweet dish.
you can use coconut cream. Use half coconut cream and half water. The cream melts on heating to translucent coconut milk kind of state so it will not look creamy on heating, but the fat is there to add the cream like consistency.
I’ve always loved this dish but am now vegan. I’m happy to have this replacement with no butter!
No cardamom?
There is Cardamom in the reipe.
Where do you get the vegan butter from?
It is available in the US easily. You can use oil instead (organic safflower, sunflower or canola)
Can i make it without using any milk
Sure, use water.
*drools*
I literally just made this and it is so scrumptious and divine! My taste buds thank you. 🙂
So glad it turned out well!
Very delicious recipe I will definitely try thank you very much.
Hi Richa,
Well said…Once I learnt the truth about dairy industry I too have stopped eating dairy sweets
Very rarely I see compassion for animals..Glad to know you are an evolved human being.
I was not aware about India being largest exported of beef and veal..Very cruel
We need to initiate some movement on it..