The best desserts are breakfast-worthy (and vice-versa!). This vegan, creamy Indian carrot and baked oatmeal dish ticks all the boxes.
Gājjar no halvo, also known as gājjar kā halwā, is a carrot-based baked oatmeal dessert made of grated carrots slowly cooked in milk and sugar. Its comforting warmth will soothe you on any cold day.
A nutritious dessert that’s rich in anti-inflammatory compounds, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids, this dish beats out even the heartiest breakfasts. Popping everything in the oven makes the process much simpler. Feel free to top with warmed nondairy milk and a drizzle of maple syrup after baking to make the consistency thinner and to sweeten it.
Vegan Indian Baked Oatmeal (Gājjar No Halvo)
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 2 tbsp ground flax seeds
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- pinch of ground nutmeg
- pinch of salt
- 1½ cup unsweetened nondairy milk
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed (about ¾ cup)
- 2 carrots grated (about ¾ cup)
- 5 Medjool dates, finely chopped (about ½ cup)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup chopped raw nuts, such as almonds, pistachios, or walnuts
- unsweetened nondairy milk, warmed
- maple syrup
- pinch of ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix together the oats, flax, chia, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl until well combined.
- Add the soy milk, bananas, carrots, dates, vanilla, and half of the chopped nuts, and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Transfer the mixture to an 8 to 9-inch (20 to 23 cm) round, square, or oval baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining nuts and bake until the oats and carrots are tender, about 30 minutes.
- Serve warm with a bit of warmed milk, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a pinch of ground cinnamon. Keep leftovers in the refrigerator for a few days and reheat with more milk as needed.
Looking for other breakfast options? Try these breakfast ‘totchos’, vegan Shakshuka or this Coconut Granola.
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Recipe from Plant-Based India: Nourishing Recipes Rooted in Tradition © Dr. Sheil Shukla, 2022. Reprinted by permission of The Experiment. Available everywhere books are sold.
