Earlier known as Lakshmanpur, Awadh is claimed to be among the most ancient of Hindu States.It is also called Ound, Oundh, or Oude,and is now in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Authentic dishes like ranging from kormas to kulchas, roomali rotis to parathas and flavorful biryani are famous all over the world-Thanks to the Nawabs of Awadh.The art of cooking food over slow fire or ‘Dum’ style of cooking originated from this region.This process involves sealing ingredients in large pot called handi and is placed over slow fire, allowing the ingredients to simmer in their own juices.The food-loving Nawabs of Awadh were indeed instrumental in the creation of a wonderful cuisine.The chefs used their expertise in blending spices to create aromatic dishes in the royal kitchen.
The richness of Awadh cuisine lies in the its ingredients and also the diverse ways of cooking it.Some dishes are flavorful due to the use of high ingredients like cream and ghee while others taste equally good though prepared from mustard oil!
Presenting to you a lovely treat from the nawabi kitchen-Gajar ka halwa or Carrot halwa.
Carrots-1 cup grated
Sugar-a little more than 1/4 cup [or more if u need it sweeter]
Milk-1/2 a cup
Ghee-5 tablespoons
Raisins,chopped almonds to garnish
- Heat ghee in a pressure cooker and put in the chopped almonds and fry till golden brown.Remove with a slotted spatula and keep aside.
- In the same ghee,fry the raisin till they puff-up.Keep aside.
- In the same cooker,put in the grated carrot and cook till the raw smell goes off.
- Put in the milk and sugar and mix well.
- Close the cooker and cook for 10 minutes on medium flame.
- Let the pressure release on its own.
- Check if the milk has been absorbed ,else cook uncovered till the milk is absorbed.Keep stirring all the while.
- Serve garnished with Raisins and almonds.
Sending this to Siri’s RCI:Awadhi Cuisine ,a lovely event started by Lakshmi .
When I was serving this to MIL and Hubby dear,my lil angel was watching us and kept pointing her tiny finger towards the bowl in hubby’s hands.I took a lil bit of halwa and before giving it to lil angel,said aloud,’If u smile when I feed this to you it means its yummm’..And you will never believe what she did!!!She tasted the halwa, smacked her lips and smiled the cutest smile and said ‘umm,ummm,ummm’!!!That’s the best compliment I ever got !!! 🙂
Lilangel knows tastes aldy? Good. But no wonder. Pj’s daughter got to be lik that.
she is not only a lil angel…. also a lucky angel…..