Indian · serves 2

Beetroot Halwa

Carrot halwa's better-looking cousin. The colour alone is worth it.

45 min Some work Vegetarian No oven needed

Ingredients

  • 500g beetroot, peeled and grated
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 cups milk
  • 3 tbsp ghee
  • 2 cardamoms, crushed
  • A handful of pistachios, chopped

Method

  1. Fry the grated beetroot in ghee with a splash of water until it loses its raw smell.
  2. Sugar in. It will go liquid again — keep going on low until it dries back out.
  3. Milk and cardamom. Now it's just stirring, twenty minutes, until the milk is gone and the mixture pulls away from the pan.
  4. Pistachios on top. Good hot or cold.
  5. Swap the beetroot for carrot and it's gajar ka halwa.

Questions people ask about Beetroot Halwa

How long does Beetroot Halwa take?

About 45 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is a bit of work. Most of that is active, so read the method through before you start rather than chopping as you go.

What can I use instead of ghee in Beetroot Halwa?

Use butter, or a neutral oil if you need it dairy-free. You lose the nutty note ghee gives, so brown the butter first to get some of it back.

Can I make Beetroot Halwa ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Beetroot Halwa vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Can I make Beetroot Halwa without an oven?

That is exactly what this recipe is for. It uses a pressure cooker, a pan or the fridge instead of an oven, and the method here is written for that, not adapted from a baked version.

What do you serve with Beetroot Halwa?

Roti or plain rice, with something sharp on the side: curd, pickle or sliced onion. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

Don't know what to cook? Let it decide →

If you liked this