Every year on April 4th, International Carrot Day is celebrated worldwide. It's a day dedicated to the root vegetable that is packed with nutrition and health benefits. Carrots are not only delicious but also beneficial for your skin, teeth, and eyes. Moreover, they are known to be excellent immune system boosters.
Here are seven simple carrot-based recipes to brighten your carrot day celebration.
Gajar halwa
A steaming Gajar halwa is every Indian's favourite winter dessert. Green cardamom, cinnamon, and sugar are infused into grated carrots that have been drained of all their water. Then they're sprinkled with a handful of pistachios and almonds before being fried in desi ghee and condensed milk.
Ingredients:
- 1-2 kg Carrot
- 10 Whole green cardamom
- 2 Cinnamon sticks
- Sugar
- Desi ghee (clarified butter)
- Condensed milk (option: mawa / khoya)
- 100 gms almonds, pistachios and you can also use other nuts of your choice.
How to make it:
- Grate carrots and put them in a pot on heat, and stir fry till all the water is evaporated. Then put some green cardamom, cinnamon and sugar and cook for some time. Add desi ghee and cook for 10 minutes. At last, Add mawa and khoya. Garnish with pistachios and almonds or other nuts of your choice. Serve it hot and enjoy your 'garam-garam gajar halwa'.
Also read: Let's see off the carrots this season with gajar malpua
Carrot Kanji
Every mother's favourite health drink is carrot kanji. Because mothers want to live healthy and nutritious food & drink for their kids. Sharp eyesight, healthy skin, and strong hair are just a few of the proven health advantages of this delectable super-drink, so don't miss out and do make this healthy drink and enjoy it with your family.
Ingredients:
- 3-4 Carrots take kaali gajar
- Water
- 3 tbsp mustard seeds powder
- 2 tbsp salt
How to make it:
- Peel the carrots, and cut them into big pieces. Boil the water and add carrots to it. Once carrots are boiled, shut off the heat and leave them to cool. Add salt and the mustard seeds powder, and transfer them into a jar. Keep the jar in sunlight for 2-3 days, that will develop the taste of mustard to it. Serve it cold or as it is according to your preference.
Carrot and cashew coleslaw
Coleslaw is a type of creamy salad made from shredded cabbage or carrots. It goes well with bread, appetisers, and grilled main courses. This wonderful recipe may be mastered in as little as 20 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 1-2 Grated carrot
- Finely chopped onion
- 2 chopped celery sticks
- 300 gm grapes
- 300 gm peeled lichees
- 1/2 cabbage
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- 3 tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp poppy seeds
- 1/4 tsp yellow mustard seeds
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tbsp apple juice
- Salt and pepper
- 30-40 gm roasted cashew
- Herbs to garnish
How to make it:
- Combine fruit and vegetables and add parsley. Heat some oil and add poppy and mustard seeds. Add vinegar and apple juice to the oil. Mix and pour over coleslaw. Garnish with nuts and herbs and serve it cold.
Cinammon carrot muffins
- You've come to the right place if you're seeking a delicious dessert that's low in calories but high in flavour. You'll want to keep eating these small carrot muffins since they're prepared with a dash of cinnamon.
Ingredients:
- Oven Temp: 325F-160C
- Grated Carrots
- 240 gms all-purpose flour
- 1 cup assorted nuts, chopped
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon powder
- 480 gm brown sugar
- 1/2 cup oil
- 4 eggs
How to make it:
Roll nuts in some flour and keep it aside. Sift flour, soda, salt, and cinnamon. Add to this the brown sugar, oil, and beaten eggs. Mix in the carrots and nuts. Put the batter into the pastry cups and bake in a preheated oven for 15-20 minutes. Take it out of the oven and leave it to cool.
Carrot cake
Look no further if you're looking for a quick dessert. This carrot cake is moist, spongy, nutritious, and delicious.
Ingredients:
- 150 gm brown sugar
- 150 ml oil refined
- 400-500 gm quark cheese
- 300 gm icing sugar
- 50 gm white butter
- 300 gm carrot
- 100 gm walnut
- 150 gm pineapple
- 3-4 eggs
- 11 gm cinnamon powder
- 12 gm nutmeg
- 10 gm baking powder
- 10 gm baking soda
- Salt to taste
- 250 gm mascarpone cheese
How to make it:
- Mix the grated carrot, refined oil, castor sugar, and brown sugar. In another mixing bowl, mix flour, baking powder, nutmeg powder, cinnamon powder, vanilla essence, and eggs. In a different bowl, mix chopped walnuts and chopped pineapple. Keep them aside.
- Mix all of the above and dunk it in a baking dish. Let it bake for 45 min at 180C. After baking, leave it for 15-20 minutes to rest. Take out the cake and put it in the freezer. In another bowl, mix the quark cheese, mascarpone cheese, white butter, and icing sugar and keep aside. Cut the carrot cake horizontally and fill it with quark cheese and icing sugar.
Carrot rolls
Do you love rolls? Make one for you and your family. This tasty and easy snack just requires a few easily available that you can easily find in your pantry: bread crumbs, paprika, garlic paste, pine nuts, and other things. Make these yummy and healthy rolls for your kids.
Ingredients:
- 10-12 peeled and sliced carrots
- 2-3 Tbsp fresh breadcrumbs
- 8 dried and chopped apricots
- 3 sliced spring onions
- 2 tbsp pine nuts
- 2 tsp garlic paste
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp chilli powder
- 1 egg
- 4 tbsp herbs
- Salt and pepper
- Flour to coat
- Oil
For the Sauce:
- 3 tbsp thick curd
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp garlic paste
- Salt and pepper
- How to make it:
- For sauce
- Beat all the ingredients together.
- For Roll
- Steam carrots, drain and mash the carrots. Add remaining ingredients, and mix well, adding more crumbs if required. Shape into oblongs and coat with flour. Set it aside to cool down Chill. Once chilled, shallow fry the rolls until they turn golden brown. Serve hot with the chilled sauce.
Baked carrot fries
Everyone loves fries and if you want a break from regular potato fries. Try this recipe of unique and tasty carrot fries and enjoy them as your anytime snack. This snack only requires a few simple ingredients that you may easily find in your pantry.
Ingredients:
- 5-6 carrots (cut into long strips)
- A pinch of sugar
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt as per taste
- 1/2 tsp coriander powder
How to make it:
- In a bowl, take carrots add some olive oil, coriander powder, and a pinch of sugar. Stir it well. Take a baking tray and oil it. Line up the carrots over the tray and set them in the oven at 100 degrees for 20 minutes. Your fries are ready to serve hot with ketchup or any chutney.