Have You Tried These Lesser-Known Vegetable Halwas?

Whenever we talk about easy homemade desserts, halwas are the first thing that come to mind. Be it ‘suji ka halwa’ or ‘aate ka halwa’, they never fail to impress us with their delicious taste and are also simple to make. But vegetables are another variety of ingredients that are popular for preparing this sweet confection. Gajar ka halwa is the favourite of most Indians. As soon as winter arrives the aroma of this delicious halwa starts circulating in the air. There are a variety of vegetables that are indulged in such as halwas, pumpkin and beetroot are another common example of vegetables. But have you ever tried cabbage halwa or lauki halwa? Here is the recipe for five halwas that are made with vegetables: 

1. Lauki Halwa 


Ingredients:

  • 600 gm bottle gourd  
  • ¼ cup ghee  
  • 5 cashews (halved) 
  • 5 almonds (chopped) 
  • 2 tbsp raisins  
  • ½ cup milk 
  • ¾ cup sugar 
  • ½  cup khoya 
  • ¼ tsp cardamom powder 

Method: 

  • Heat ghee and roast cashew, almonds and raisins. 
  • Roast the nuts to golden brown and keep aside. 
  • Now add in grated gourd and sauté for five minutes. 
  • Then add in milk and mix well. 
  • Cook for ten minutes or till milk thickens. 
  • Add in sugar and boil for five minutes or till it thickens. 
  • Then add the ingredients mentioned khoya into the mixture and mix well. 
  • Keep stirring till the mixture thickens. 
  • Add in roasted nuts and cardamom powder, mix well. 

Serve hot or chilled. 

2. Sweet Potato Halwa 


Ingredients: 

  • 2 sweet potatoes (grated) 
  • 1 tsp sugar 
  • 1 tsp ghee 
  • 1/2 cup mixed nuts (chopped) 
  • 1 tsp cardamom powder  

Method:  

  • Place a skillet on medium heat and add ghee to it.  
  • Once the ghee is warm, add sweet potato and sauté till it softens.  
  • Add sugar, cardamom powder and nuts, mix well, keep stirring and cook the Halwa for three minutes.  
  • Turn off the heat, transfer into a serving bowl, garnish with nuts. 

3. Cauliflower Halwa 

Ingredients: 

  • 250 gm cauliflower 
  • 3 tsp khoya 
  • 100 gm sugar 
  • 2 tsp dry fruit powder 
  • 1/2 tsp cardamom powder 
  • 2 tsp ghee

Method: 

  • Cut cauliflower into small pieces and boil with enough water on medium heat. 
  • Heat pan roast khoya on low heat and keep it aside. 
  • Then add boiled cauliflower in the same pan and cook on medium heat, keep stirring. 
  • Add sugar, khoya, cardamom powder and dry fruits mix well. 
  • And cauliflower halwa is ready to serve.

4. Potato Halwa 

Ingredients: 

  • 3 large potatoes  
  • 1 tbsp ghee 
  • 1/2 cup sugar 
  • 1/2 cup milk 
  • 1/2 tbsp cashews (chopped & lightly roasted) 
  • 1/4 tbsp almonds (chopped) 
  • A pinch of cardamom powder 
  • 1/2 tbsp raisins 

Method: 

  • Boil the potatoes and peel off the skin. 
  • Then mash it with your hands. 
  • In a pan, pour some ghee and let it heat.  
  • Then add the mashed potatoes and let it roast for 1-2 minutes. 
  • Add milk, sugar and raisins to the potatoes and mix them well. 
  • Cook for another 8-10 minutes and stir frequently. 
  • Add cardamom and stir. 
  • Garnish with almonds & cashews and serve hot. 

5. Cabbage Halwa 

Ingredients:  

  • 1/2 cup cabbage  
  • 1/4 cup ghee  
  • 2 cups whole milk  
  • 1/2 cup sugar  
  • 1/2 tsp cardamom powder  
  • Chopped nuts

Method: 

  • Add ghee and shredded cabbage together in a pan and sauté on a medium flame until the raw smell of cabbage goes.  
  • Add the milk and cook on a high flame, stir continuously.  
  • Once the milk turns thick and becomes half of the quantity, add in the sugar, ghee and cook on a medium flame until the mixture turns thick.  
  • Finally add the cardamom powder and cook on simmer.  
  • Once the halwa is nicely cooked, turn off the heat. 
  •  Add the chopped nuts, give a stir and serve warm or cold.