Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Gajar Ka Halwa

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Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Gajar Ka Halwa

Gajar Ka Halwa
Gajar Ka Halwa



Nothing was sponsored, we visited as regular paying customers. Photos in this post were taken between 2000 and 2023 (across 23 years!), as such, the quality of photos varies drastically due to advances in camera technology. Mobile smartphones were in their infancy and had yet to become widespread.


Also Known As:
Gajar Ka Halwa, Carrot Halwa, Gajrela, Gajorer Halua, Gajar Pak


Average Price Per Serving:
SGD $4 - $12








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Description:
The Gajar Ka Halwa is a Singaporean Indian vegetarian dessert. It resembles a pudding, consisting of grated carrots stewed with milk powder, water, white sugar, cardamom, and ghee / clarified butter, sometimes garnished with raisins, pistachio nuts, or vanilla ice cream. Also known as Carrot Halwa, Gajrela, Gajorer Halua, or Gajar Pak, the Gajar Ka Halwa dish is usually priced around SGD $4 to $12 per serving. It's commonly eaten for dessert.

The traditional version of Gajar Ka Halwa is made with finely grated carrots, simmered with whole milk, then reduced with white sugar, powdered cardamom, and ghee / clarified butter. Stirred slowly with water added as needed, the mix is slowly solidified into a pudding-like texture, juicy, soft, grainy, and chewy. The garnishing of black raisins, golden raisins, crushed pistachio nuts, or a scoop of ice cream is then added, depending on the stall.

A quicker version uses condensed milk instead of whole milk, which reduces the cooking time and lends greater depth of flavour, but also makes the Gajar Ka Halwa dessert much more decadent. The Gajar Ka Halwa is typically served warm, and carries bright vegetal sweet milky spice nutty flavour, appealing for all ages.

A healthier version of Gajar Ka Halwa omits the white sugar, resulting in a much more natural taste. There's also a papaya version, where papaya shavings are added to the Gajar Ka Halwa for added fruity sweet flavour. Gajar Ka Halwa is known for its medium shelf-life, keeping up to 10 days when refrigerated, or up to 1 month when frozen.


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1. Anjappar Chettinad Restaurant
@ 76 Race Course Road
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 11pm

Taken in 2023


Taken in 2023


Gajar Ka Halwa (SGD $6.50) @ Anjappar Chettinad Restaurant.

Since their humble beginnings in Chennai Tamil Nadu, India, in 1964, this brand has since grown, with outlets across 8 countries worldwide.

Their rendition has reduced the carrot to a smooth chunky paste, and while devoid of garnishes, carries bright vegetal sweet milky spice flavour.





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2. Chutney Mary
@ 719 East Coast Road
Opening Hours: Daily 10:30am – 10:30pm

Taken in 2023


Taken in 2023


Taken in 2023


Gajar Ka Halwa (SGD $5.50) @ Chutney Mary.

Their rendition of grated carrots and condensed milk is grainy and chunky, warm with lovely vegetal earthy spice sweet flavour.

Garnished with crunchy pistachio nuts which lend an earthy nutty note. Served in a generous portion.





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3. Peacock Restaurant
@ NEWest, 1 West Coast Drive #01-95
Opening Hours: Daily 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5pm – 10:30pm

Taken in 2023


Taken in 2023


Gajar Ka Halwa (SGD $6.90) @ Peacock Restaurant.

Love their version which has grated carrots blended with condensed milk, served in a generous portion, garnished with crushed pistachios.

Has a sticky chunky juicy texture, with bright vegetal milky sweet nutty spice flavour.





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4. Shahi Maharani North Indian Restaurant
@ Raffles City, 252 North Bridge Road #03-21B
Opening Hours: Daily 12pm – 2:30pm, 6:30pm – 10:30pm

Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Gajar Ka Halwa (SGD $12) @ Shahi Maharani North Indian Restaurant.

Hot and fragrant, this dollop of grated carrot and condensed milk stands tall, garnished with crushed almonds and pistachios.

More chunky and juicy than most, the vegetal sweet milky spice flavours here are more pronounced, with a light nutty note.

Served with cold creamy vanilla ice cream to contrast, lending a lovely floral earthy sweet flavour.





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5. Zaffron Kitchen
@ 137 East Coast Road
Opening Hours: Daily 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 9:30pm

@ The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green #02-04
Opening Hours: Daily 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 9:30pm

Taken in 2023


Taken in 2023


Taken in 2023


Gajar Ka Halwa (SGD $10.40) @ Zaffron Kitchen.

Generously portioned, their rendition blends grated carrot with cardamom, condensed milk, and evaporated milk, resulting in a smooth chunky texture and bright vegetal sweet spice flavour.

Served with creamy smooth vanilla ice cream over crushed pistachio, glazed with chocolate fudge, lending chocolatey floral earthy nutty sweet flavour.

Nicely comforting and satisfying.





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- Jaggi’s Northern Indian Cuisine – Quality Different From Before
@ 36 Race Course Road

Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022






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