Beetroot Halwa / Chukandar Halwa [Beetroot Sweet Dish ]

Did you know that beets have amazing blood cleansing properties!!!

Beetroot is a good source of folic acid, iodine, organic sodium, potassium, chlorine and digestive forms of sugars. The iron content is of fine quality, which makes it ideal for blood production.

Health Benefits:[Read more here]

• Fights Acidosis
• A great blood builder
• Excellent solvent for calcium deposits in arteries
• Normalizes blood pressure
• Relieves constipation
• Beet juice when mixed with vinegar makes a good anti-dandruff solution
• The chlorine detoxifies the liver
• When mixed with honey, heals gastric ulcer
• Beet juice and carrot juice together cures gall and kidney problems
• Prevents varicose nerves by maintaining elasticity of arteries
  

Enjoy Beetroot [Chukandar] Halwa !!

Ingredients:

Beetroot [Chukandar in Hindi] - 2 medium
Milk - 2 Cups
Sugar - 1 tbsp
Clarified butter [Ghee] - 1 tsp
Choicest Nuts and berries - handful
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
Grated coconut - optional

Method:

• Grate and steam the peeled beetroots for 5-10 minutes [steaming is optional, it just quickens the cooking process]
  
• Heat ghee in a heavy bottom pan, fry grated beets for 3-5 minutes on medium heat. Transfer it to another plate
  
• Pour milk in to the pan and let it boil. Now add fried beets and cook on medium heat with constant stirring. Keep cooking till the milk condenses
  
• At this stage add sugar and mix well.
  
• Take it off the heat when all the milk condenses. Sprinkle cardamom powder and garnish with nuts and coconut and serve hot or cold
  
• I think it will also go well with vanilla ice-cream....give it a try!

My Notes:

• It tastes just like carrot halwa, however it was hard time convincing my DH to eat because of the crimson red color!

Update [12/27/2009]

I have made beetroot halwa by steaming as well as directly boiling in milk. I noticed steaming takes away pigments of beetroot resulting in dull red halwa when compared to beetroots cooked directly in milk. I would think steaming will also strip away nutrients?

~~~~~~~~~~Event Participation~~~~~~~~~~

Health nut Challenge 3 - Healing Foods by Yasmeen

I am sending this entry for "Cook For Yourself " event hosted by Radhika who is celebrating her first blog anniversary!

‘Food for 7 stages of Life – Kids (4-14 years)’ by Radhika of Sourashtra Kitchen and Sudeshna of Cook Like A Bong


~~~~~~~~~AWARD~~~~~~~~~

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