ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The special winter delight Gajar Ka Halwa’ (carrot dessert) demand increased as citizens of the Federal Capital and other parts of the country experience chilly weather.
Besides the traditional sweet shops, make shift stalls have also popped up on roadside and markets, where the people buy this winter delight to enjoy it hot with steaming tea.
Large platters of “Gajar ka halwa” adorned with silver vark and crushed nuts are being served in restaurants with windowsills decorated with traditional winter delight.
A seller Hashmat Javed in a local market said that the ingredients for ‘Gajar ka Halwa’ were identical but every shop has a bit different taste due to added delicacies.
Most people boil carrots in water instead of milk, which is the easier way because it does not have to be slow cooked overnight then.
“However, we add milk, Khoya, ghee and almonds and other nuts to the halwa and our prices are also very reasonable,” he added.
In a cold winter night, there is nothing better than a bite of hot buttery Halwa followed by a sip of Kashmiri tea,” Huma Seemab, a visitor to a shop said.
“Children and younger people can benefit from eating Gajar Halwa but older people should ensure their Halwa contains lesser amounts of ghee as it is rich in cholesterol,” Dr Nasir Mukhtar said.
“It is best to cook halwa at home. If people prefer to buy it from the shops then reputed shops should be selected,” he advised.