Lauki Ka Halwa

Full written recipe of Lauki Ka Halwa

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 45-50 minutes

Serves: 3-4 people

Ingredients:

• MILK | दूध 1 LITRE (FULL FAT)
• BOTTLE GOURD | लौकी 1 NO. (750 GRAMS)
• GHEE | घी 3 TBSP
• SUGAR | शक्कर 100 - 120 GRAMS
• GREEN CARDAMOM POWDER | हरी इलायची पाउडर A PINCH
• GHEE | घी 1 TBSP
• CHIRONJI | चिरोंजी 1 TSP
• ALMOND | बादाम 5-6 NOS. (SLIVERED)
• CASHEW | काजू 5-6 NOS. (ROUGHLY CHOPPED)

Method:

1. Add the milk into a deep pan & set it over medium flame on the side first, so that by the time you grate & cook the bottle gourd, the milk will get hot.
2. Now peel the bottle gourd & trim its top & bottom off.
3. Further cut it into two halves from the centre then divide them into quarters & trim the seeds portion of the bottle gourd.
4. Grate the flesh of the gourd using a large hold grater, make sure you do this step with a good speed because bottle gourd oxidizes very fast & it will turn dark.
5. Once you have grated the bottle gourd, quickly set a kadhai over high heat, add the ghee & let the ghee get hot.
6. Further transfer the grated gourd into the kadhai, stir well & cook it over medium flame until it turns translucent, this process will take 4-5 minutes, make sure that you don’t cook for too long otherwise its colour will change.
7. Once it turns translucent, carefully pour in the heated milk then stir well.
8. Now you have to cook it over medium high flame until all the milk reduces & it turns into a semi-thick mixture, this process will take upto 45 minutes, while its cooking you will need to stir it at frequent intervals.
9. Once the milk reduces to 1/3 of its original quantity, keep stirring it until a semi thick mixture forms.
10. Further add the sugar & cardamom powder, upon stirring the halwa will loosen up a bit again due to the moisture from the sugar, keep stirring & cook until the halwa thickens up again.
11. Switch off the flame once the halwa thickens up, set a small pan over high flame on the side & add ghee, let the ghee heat it up.
12. Add chironji, almonds & cashews, stir & fry them over medium flame until they light golden brown then transfer them into the halwa & mix well.
13. Your delicious & rich lauki ka halwa is ready.