12 One-Pot Winter Wonders Your Dadi Would Approve Of

10. Gajar ka Halwa — Carrot Halwa, the Sweet Warm Hug

Gajar ka Halwa is the winter dessert Dadi might have made for guests or for celebrations, rooted in the seasonal sweetness of freshly harvested carrots. Grated carrots are slowly cooked in ghee with milk until they’re soft and the mixture thickens, then sweetened with sugar or jaggery and perfumed with cardamom. A handful of chopped nuts—almonds and pistachios—adds a pleasing crunch. For a one-pot home method, use a heavy-bottomed pan to avoid sticking and stir patiently as the milk reduces; this is part of the ritual and pays off in deep, caramelized flavor. The result is warm, spoonable comfort that’s richly textured and carries the aroma of winter kitchens across the generations.