Carrot and Beet Halwa Bites (Vegan)

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A carrot halwa makes the perfect festive dessert. Layers of rich flavor created by thickening milk and then finishing it off with ghee. I wanted to keep the richness but cut down on time and the richness. And thus evolved these Carrot and Beet Halwa bites. Quicker and wholesome, they make the perfect sweet treat or snack. This recipe is vegan, but, most people when tasting it either cannot tell or insist it is every bit as good. A halwa in the Indian kitchen is a lush and rice tasting dessert made with pureed seasonal vegetables cooked in milk down to a pate like texture. A halwa is great served either warm or cold.

The good news about my halwa,

It needs less than 30 minutes of cooking time.created with coconut milk, walnuts, beets, carrot, sugar and cardamoms. So yes, just six ingredients.

And what binds the halwa together and creates a rich and dense texture is walnuts. A healthy nut, in fact, research research suggests walnut consumption may be associated with improved cognitive function. The magic here is that when ground, the soft texture blends in beautifully into the halwa and creates the rich and dense texture associated with a good halwa. Thanks to the generous dose of  plant-based protein (4g/oz) and fiber (2g/oz) in the nuts you a small halwa bite will keep you satisfied and makes the perfect snack.

You can use any combination of beets and carrots in this recipe. Depending on the combination used, the halwa will range in color from orange to orange red. Use one of both vegetables in this halwa, it is flexible.

A note on the use of cardamom, it is generous in this recipe. However, since the overall halwa cooks for a lesser period this is important. And when you snack on these deep rich halwa bites, you will have a difficult time believing that they are actually super good for you.

The halwa bites are freezer friendly, so make a double batch and freeze them if you so choose.

PrintCarrot and Beet Halwa Bites (Vegan)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

Serving Size: 2 squares or balls

An easy and healthy take on carrot halwa that also happens to be vegan.

Ingredients

2 medium sized beets
2 medium sized carrots
1 and 1/2 cups (about 1 regulars sized 15 oz. can) of coconut milk
8 cardamoms, gently crushed
3/4 cup of cane sugar
1 cup of whole walnuts (about 8 oz)
Whole walnuts and coconut flakes to garnish

Instructions

Peel the beets and the carrots and place in a food processor with 1/4 cup of coconut milk. We want a smooth almost puree like texture.
Place the carrots and beets in a large skillet and most of the remaining coconut milk. Leave a little to use if needed to deglaze and loosen the mixture if needed.
Simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes, the mixture should form a smooth mass and the coconut milk should be completely absorbed.
Add in the sugar,
In the meantime place the whole walnuts in a nut or spice grinder and grind into a powder. Alternately, crush very finely using a rolling pin.
Stir this into the carrot mixture. This should get absorbed quickly and the mixture should tighten. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the halwa starts leaving the sides of the skillet.
Allow the halwa to cool and shape into balls. Top with a little coconut and whole walnuts.
Alternately, place in a square container and chill for a couple of hours and then cut into squares.3.1https://spicechronicles.com/carrot-and-beet-halwa-bites-vegan/

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