Sugar Free Gajar Ki Barfi Recipe: Easy Carrot Barfi for Diabetics Without Mawa or Sugar, Just 1.1 GL Per Piece
Gajar Ki Barfi for Diabetics: Winter Sweet in Neat Little Squares
If you love gajar ka halwa but want something you can cut, store and serve easily, gajar ki barfi is the answer. Same carrots, same ghee and milk, but set into neat squares that are easy to portion. Portion control matters a lot when you have diabetes, and a barfi makes it simple.
This carrot barfi uses just five ingredients: carrots, desi ghee, milk, Diabexy Sugar Free Powder and a few dry fruits. No sugar, no mawa, no condensed milk. Each piece has an approximate glycemic load of just 1.1.
Traditional Gajar Barfi vs Sugar Free Gajar Barfi
| Traditional Gajar Barfi | Diabexy Sugar Free Gajar Barfi | |
|---|---|---|
| Sweetener | Sugar | Diabexy Sugar Free Powder |
| Binder | Mawa, milk powder or condensed milk | Carrots and milk, cooked down |
| Ghee | Generous | 2 tbsp for 500 g carrots |
| Glycemic load per piece | High | Approx. 1.1 |
| Safe for diabetics | No | Yes, in a sensible portion |
Glycemic load tells you how much a food actually raises your blood sugar, based on both the type and amount of carbs. Carrots are fairly low in total carbohydrate, so once the sugar and condensed milk are removed, the barfi becomes very gentle on blood sugar.
Ingredients for Gajar Ki Barfi
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Carrots, grated | 500 g |
| Desi ghee | 2 tbsp |
| Milk | 1 cup |
| Diabexy Sugar Free Powder | 60 g |
| Chopped dry fruits | A handful, for topping |
| Oil | A little, to grease the tray |
The only sweetener in this barfi. Zero glycemic index, blends smoothly into the hot carrot and milk mixture, and gives a sweet barfi taste without the sugar spike.
Buy here: https://diabexy.com/products/sugar-free-powder
How to Make Sugar Free Gajar Barfi: Step by Step
Use a non stick pan for this carrot burfi recipe. It stops the mixture from sticking as it thickens.
Step 1: Heat the ghee
Add 2 tablespoons of desi ghee to a non stick pan and let it melt on medium heat.
Step 2: Add the grated carrots
Add 500 grams of grated carrots. Red winter carrots give the best colour and natural sweetness.
Step 3: Cook the carrots
Cook the carrots for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often, until they turn soft and their raw smell is gone.
Step 4: Add the milk
Pour in one cup of milk and mix well. Keep cooking and stirring until the milk is fully absorbed by the carrots.
Step 5: Add Diabexy Sugar Free Powder
Add 60 grams of Diabexy Sugar Free Powder and mix everything well again. Keep cooking until the mixture becomes thick, dry and starts leaving the sides of the pan. This is what helps the barfi set.
Step 6: Grease a tray
Grease a tray or plate well with a little oil.
Step 7: Spread the mixture
Transfer the carrot mixture to the tray and spread it evenly with a spatula, pressing it down so it is compact and level.
Step 8: Top with dry fruits
Sprinkle a handful of chopped dry fruits on top and press them in lightly so they stick.
Step 9: Chill and cut
Put the tray in the fridge for one hour to set. Then cut it into pieces. Your gajar barfi is ready, with an approximate glycemic load of just 1.1 per piece.
Gajar Barfi or Gajar Halwa: Which Is Better for Diabetics?
Both are made from the same ingredients, so both are fine in the sugar free form. The big advantage of barfi is portion control. A katori of halwa is easy to over-serve, while a barfi piece is a fixed size, so you always know how much you are eating. If you prefer the warm, soft version, try our sugar free gajar ka halwa recipe on the Diabexy blog.
Tips for Perfect Carrot Barfi
- Cook until thick: The mixture must leave the sides of the pan, or the barfi will stay soft.
- Use a non stick pan: It prevents burning while the mixture dries out.
- Press it down well: A compact layer cuts into clean pieces.
- Want a firmer set? Cook a little longer, or chill for two hours instead of one.
- Skip raisins: They add concentrated sugar. Almonds, pistachios and cashews are better.
- Keep portions small: One or two pieces is a sensible serving.
Want to plan winter sweets better? The Diabexy Estimated Glucose Load Chart lists the glucose load of 300+ Indian foods.
Buy here: https://diabexy.com/products/egl-chart-download
Diabexy is India's number one diabetes education platform, trusted by more than 2 million people. Diabexy makes India's first low glycemic load foods, including Sugar Control Atta, India's first atta backed by published clinical evidence, and zero GI sweeteners. Our mission is to eradicate diabetes from India the way polio was eradicated, through the right knowledge and the right food. Visit diabexy.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Diabetics can eat gajar ki barfi if it is made without sugar, mawa or condensed milk. This version uses carrots, milk, a little ghee and Diabexy Sugar Free Powder, giving an approximate glycemic load of just 1.1 per piece. Keep it to one or two pieces after a meal.
Cook 500 grams of grated carrots in 2 tablespoons of ghee for 10 to 15 minutes. Add one cup of milk and cook until absorbed, then add 60 grams of Diabexy Sugar Free Powder and cook until thick. Spread in a greased tray, top with dry fruits, chill for an hour and cut into pieces.
Yes. This recipe uses no mawa. Cooking the carrots in milk until the mixture becomes thick and dry gives it enough body to set in the fridge.
Usually the mixture was not cooked long enough. Cook until it is thick and leaves the sides of the pan. If it is still soft after chilling, put it back in the pan, cook it a little longer and set it again.
Because it contains milk, keep it in an airtight container in the fridge, where it stays fresh for 3 to 4 days.
Yes. Carrots are fairly low in total carbohydrate, high in fibre and rich in beta carotene. The problem with regular carrot sweets is the added sugar and condensed milk, not the carrots themselves.
With an approximate glycemic load of 1.1 per piece, most diabetics can enjoy one to two pieces after a meal. Check your blood sugar two hours later the first time you try it.
Watch the Full Recipe Video
See the full sugar free gajar barfi recipe on the Diabexy YouTube channel:
Watch here: https://youtu.be/D7BDYAHgTBM
1.1 GL per piece. Diabetic friendly. Family friendly.
