Daily Times

KARACHI: With the onset of winter in Karachi, sweetshops across the megacity are full of customers asking for carrot pudding, locally known as Gajar Ka Halwa or Gajrela, a traditional sweet dish.

Carrot pudding is one of the most delicious desserts of winter. It is prepared by cooking crushed carrots with a mixture of ghee, sugar, milk and chunky nuts. It is also decorated with a layer of chopped cashews, nuts and khoya. It is sold for Rs 700-800 per kilogram.

Many food historians say that Halwa may have been part of Arab and Turkish cuisines but is now popular in Pakistan and India as well.

This red coloured Halwa which is decorated with dried fruits is a mouthwatering delight. It is consumed as a winter snack in some parts of the country rather than just dessert.

A shopkeeper said that Halwa being a popular dessert item is a common dish in wedding ceremonies.

Speaking to Daily Times, one customer at a sweetshop said, “Its price increases every year and now we only buy it for our children as a winter gift.”

The ingredients of the Halwa make it a complete meal and the increase in its demand during winter contribute to its high price.

Another shopkeeper said that Halwa keeps the body warm and this is why it is extensively used in winter.

Another popular dessert item is Moong Daal Ka Halwa. It is made by cooking Moong Daal in Desi Ghee and is an ideal dessert item to eat when the weather becomes cold.

Published in Daily Times, December 19^th 2017.