India is known for its culinary marvels with diverse cultures, languages, and traditions. But do you know about their love for sweets? If you need some idea about how much, you need to look at the myriad of sweet-tooth creations.
One of the best and most beautiful parts of India is its diversity and the soul-enriching factor -food. The regional diversity is reflected in each unique delectable derived from rich traditions, ingredients, and influences. In general, Diwali is when an extraordinary array of sweet dishes is prepared in the households of everyone who is celebrating.
It is common to make sweets with the usual ingredients. But, do you know some sweets are made from vegetables that are excellent in flavour without compromising on their taste? Not only are the sweet dishes made from fruits and nuts but they can be prepared from vegetables as well.
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Gajar Ka Halwa:
For those with a sweet tooth and a love for carrots, this dish is a delightful choice. Translated as "Gajar Ka Halwa" in Hindi, carrot pudding holds a special place in North Indian cuisine and is a beloved dessert in Indian households. This delightful dish combines grated carrots, ghee, sugar, milk, cardamom, nuts, and raisins.
The cooking process involves sautéing grated carrots in ghee, followed by the addition of milk, sugar, and cardamom, simmering until it achieves a rich pudding consistency. Garnished with nuts, the dessert encapsulates sweetness, creaminess, and the richness of ghee.
Best served hot, gajar ka halwa reaches its pinnacle of enjoyment when paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, offering a perfect blend of flavours for those who appreciate the combination of sweet and savoury delights.
Lauki Ka Halwa:
In Hindi, “lauki ka halwa” means bottle gourd halwa. It is one of the most popular vegetable sweet dishes in India. It is also known as dhoodhi or lauki. The grated bottle gourd is slow-cooked in the ghee for a sweet and enriching base.
Later, sugar, ghee, and cardamom are added for flavour, taste, and texture that form upon cooking over low-to-medium heat. The smooth and slightly grained texture of the halwa adds that tempting, pleasant chewiness to the dish. This can be served warm after a meal for comfort and indulgence.
Also Read: 7 Traditional Indian Winter Sweets To Try
Beetroot Halwa:
One of the visually striking sweet items and the taste will just wander in your mind. The texture, appearance, and flavour make it a must-try dessert dish. The combination of grated beets, ghee, cardamom, sugar, and optional milk creates a must-try dish. Slow-cooked to perfection, the robust flavour of beetroot blends harmoniously with ghee, delivering a sweet, creamy, and invigorating dessert experience. It is a satisfying after-meal or evening-time dessert during the winter season.
Tamatar Ka Barfi:
Tamatar ka barfi or tomato fudge, is an exotic dessert that has a unique taste and aromatic flavour. Although tomatoes belong to the fruit family, they are most often used as vegetables in savoury preparations.
This barfi is made with ingredients like tomatoes, ghee, sugar, cardamom powder, nuts, and saffron. Begin by transforming tomatoes into a puree and heating them in a pan until water evaporates. Incorporate sugar, ghee, and cardamom powder for a halwa-like consistency.
The thick, cooked mixture is evenly spread on an oil-brushed tray and garnished with grated coconut, chopped pistachios, and saffron. Allow it to cool, then cut it into the desired shapes. This snack, enjoyed by all, especially children, stands as an all-time favourite with its unique blend of sweet and tangy tomato goodness.
Sweet Potato Halwa:
The sweet potato has more advantages than any traditional halwa due to its symphony of flavours, taste, and health. Ingredients like grated sweet potato, ghee, milk, and sugar are added to make this delicious halwa. The natural sweetness of the sweet potato with minimal sugar gives a balanced sweetness to the dish. The consistency of this halwa becomes smoother with the absorption of the milk. It is a fantastic dessert option during festivities. It can also be a comforting and indulgent halwa during the winter season.
Pumpkin Halwa:
Pumpkin halwa is one of the simplest and most delicious desserts. Ingredients like grated pumpkin, milk, ghee, cardamom powder, and sugar are used. The grated pumpkin is added to the ghee and stirred for an infusion of buttery creaminess. Then, milk, cardamom powder, and sugar are added to enhance the flavour, texture, and taste of the halwa. It can be garnished with chopped nuts and grated coconut. This dessert is so rich in flavour and easy to make. It is best served warm after a meal, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.
Parwal ki Mithai: A renowned North Indian delicacy, parwal ki mithai is a festive and wedding favourite. Juicy parwals are filled with khoya and topped with nuts and cherries. Dipped in sugar syrup, the dish is incredibly soft and best enjoyed at room temperature. Loaded with mawa and nuts, it melts in the mouth. Despite parwal being a less-preferred vegetable, this syrupy treat transforms perceptions about the vegetable. Boiled, slit, seeds removed, steeped in sugar syrup, and stuffed with khoya filling, it's a must-try to round off meals perfectly.
Pyaaz ki Kheer: Once a common dessert during the Nizam era, pyaaz ki kheer might have faded away over the last five decades. This unique kheer combines onions, sugar, and milk, reflecting a bygone culinary tradition. It was once popular but gradually lost appeal due to its unconventional nature and time-consuming preparation. The dish, featuring finely cut and blanched onions in sweetened milk, garnished with pista and almonds, highlights the rich culinary history of Hyderabad, once boasting unique desserts alongside qubani and double ka meetha.