Lauki Halwa Recipe/Bottle gourd Halwa

Ingredients
Bottle Gourd – 1 kilogram
Sugar – 1.5 cup (300 grams)
Mawa – 1 cup (250 grams)
Milk – 1 cup
Ghee – ¼ cup
Cashew nuts – 15
Almonds – 15
Green Cardamom – 6 to 7
Instructions
Rinse the bottle gourd thoroughly and pat dry. Remove the stalk and peel the gourd.
Now chop down the gourd in small chunks with 3 to 4 inch dimensions. Then grate the chunks manually or in a food processor leaving the seeds.
Finely chop the almonds and cashews for halwa. Also, peel the green cardamom and make powder.
Heat a pan to make the halwa and place the grated lauki to it.
Add 1 cup milk to the lauki and mix thoroughly. Stir the mixture really well.
Now cover and let the lauki simmer on medium flame for 3 to 4 minutes or until it the gets tender.
Check the lauki if it turned tender. Cook it more until the milk mixes well to it. So, now leave the pan uncovered and increase the flame to maximum. Keep stirring after every 1 to 2 minutes to prevent it from browning at base.
When the milk evaporates completely, add 1.5 cups of sugar to the pan and mix really well.
The halwa gets watery after adding sugar. So, let the halwa simmer until the water evaporates completely.
Do keep stirring the halwa after every 1 to 2 minutes else it will turn brown at the base.
Meanwhile, let us roast the mawa for the halwa. But keep constant check on the halwa as well.
To roast the mawa heat a pan and add crumbled mawa to it.
Roast the mawa on medium-low flame until you see little change in the color. Keep stirring constantly.
There is nice change in color and you can see ghee leaving its edges. Mawa is now roasted well and ready to use.
Transfer the mawa to another bowl to prevent it form turning brown.
Now add ¼ cup ghee to the halwa and mix well. Stir constantly and roast for 1 to 2 minutes.
Later, add roasted mawa, followed by chopped dry fruits. Mix everything really well. Also add green cardamom powder to it.
Mix everything really well and cook the halwa for 1 to 2 more minutes.
We have thoroughly cooked the halwa for 3 to 4 minutes on medium flame and the halwa is now done and ready.
Transfer the halwa to a serving bowl or plate. Garnish with some chopped dry fruits.
Lip smacking and devouring lauki halwa is ready to serve. Have this steaming hot halwa anytime of the day or after your meals.