3 cups bottle gourd(lauki grated)(500 grams gratings)
4 to 6 tbsp sugar(use as needed)
3 tbsp ghee or clarified butter
1 1/2 cups milk(full fat)
1/4 tsp cardamom powder(elaichi powder)
1 tbsp almonds sliced
1 tbsp pistachios sliced or cashews
Preparation For Lauki Ka Halwa:
1.Bring 1 1/2 cups full fat milk to a boil in a heavy bottom pan or pot.
2.While the milk boils,rinse 500 grams of bottle gourd under running water.peel the skin slightly deep and taste the bottle gourd to make sure you are not using bitter or very sour one.then grate it either using a hand grater or a food processor.i prefer using the grater with the smallest holes.i discarded the center portion of the lauki as it was not young.after grating i had 3 cups of gratings.
3.Keep checking the milk,stir occasionally to make sure it doesn't get scorched at the bottom.the milk must reduce to half or at least to 1 cup.
4.Heat 2 1/2 tbsps ghee in a heavy bottom pan.
5.Add the grated lauki and saute it well in ghee.fry well until the raw smell goes away and the moisture evaporates.
6.This may take about 7 to 10 mins.at the end of this step,there should be no excess moisture and the ghee begins to separate from the lauki.
7.Now time to check the milk.make sure it is very hot,whisk it well with a fork or whisker.whisking helps to break up the cream.make sure both milk and lauki are hot at this step.
How To Make Lauki Ka Halwa:
8.Pour the hot milk to the sauteed lauki.
9.Cook stirring Consistency On a medium to Low flame.
10.You will see the milk is absorbed fully in some time,then add 4 to 6 tablespoons sugar depending on the level of sweetness you want.
11.Lauki halwa will tuen gooey as the sugar melts.again continue to cook stirring continuously until the halwa turns thick.reduce the flame completely.
12.Sugar,milk and ghee in the lauki halwa will begin to smell great as you cook.add 1/4 to 1/2 tablespoon cardamom powder.if you don't have the powder,crush 4 green cardamom seeds in a mortar pestle and add it.
13.Pour 1 tsp ghee.if you want you can add more.
14.Cook further just for 1 to 2 mins.
Garnish lauki ka halwa with sliced almonds and pistas.serve warm or chilled.it keeps good in the refrigrator for 2 days.
