RAWALPINDI: The onset of winters also hails the arrival of traditional winter sweets, including halwas sold at various shops and bakeries including gajar ka halwa and daal ka halwa among others.

Large platters of halwas adorned with silver vark and crushed nuts can be seen in eateries in the lanes of Raja Bazaar and other markets with some having decorated their display windows with the traditional winter delights and others displaying their wares out on the street.

Many sweet shops and bakeries in Raja Bazaar, Purana Qila, Bhabara Bazaar, Saidpuri Gate, Banni and Kartarpura specialise in making various halwas and a few have become popular for their halwas among residents of the city.Gajar ka halwa is made by slow cooking carrots over night with milk.

The mix is then fried in butter oil and garnished with condensed milk, almonds and pistachios.

According to the owner of a sweet shop in Commercial Market, Sajjad Anwar, the recipe is simple but requires to be made in large quantities the night before and cannot be made according to order.

“Our most sold items throughout winter are gajar and daal ka halwa and panjeeri. During the winters, demand for other sweet items declines,” he said.

A shopkeeper in Bhabara Bazaar, Mohammad Anwar, said that the ingredients for gajar ka halwa are the same but the recipe varies from shop to shop.

“Most people boil carrots in water instead of milk, which is the easier way because it does not have to be slow cooked over night then. However, doing so compromised the taste and the customer base,” he said.

“We add in milk, khoya, ghee and almonds and other nuts to the halwa and our prices are also very reasonable,” he said.

A customer at the shop, Ahsan Qureshi, said that three shops had opened in Saddar Bazaar which just sell halwas and Kashmiri tea in the winters the past decade.

“I love the winters for two reasons: traditional sweets like daal and gajar ka halwa and bonfire parties,” he said, adding that various shops on Murree Road and in Saddar arethe best places for halwas.

It becomes difficult to avoid having halwas in the winters, said Mohammad Hassan, another customer.

“It is routine for me to take halwa home at least two times a week. It takes a lot of time to make halwas, which my wife cannot take out because she works as well,” he said.

The shops in Saddar make better halwas compared to those in other parts of the city, he said, adding that halwas help keep one warm during the winters due to the use of milk and nuts.

Due to the use of carrots and milk, halwas are a healthy snack for children as well, said Dr Haider Akhtar.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Akhtar said that oily halwas are not harmful for children and that older people should try having halwas that are not heavy in oil.

He said carrots contain Vitamin A which is good for the eyes and helps children grow and is also good for the bones.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2016