Lauki ka halwa Recipe

Kochi

25 Feb, 2023

Lauki, also known as bottle gourd or calabash, is a vegetable commonly found in Indian cuisine. One of the most popular desserts made with lauki is halwa, a sweet pudding made with milk, sugar, and nuts. In this recipe, we will show you how to make lauki ka halwa step-by-step.

Ingredients:

1 lauki (bottle gourd), peeled and grated

1 cup whole milk

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup ghee (clarified butter)

1/2 cup chopped nuts (almonds, cashews, and pistachios)

1/2 tsp cardamom powder

A pinch of saffron threads

Step 1: Prepare the Lauki Peel the skin of the lauki and cut off the ends. Cut it into small pieces and discard the seeds. Grate the lauki and keep it aside.

Step 2: Boiling the Milk In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat the milk and cream on medium heat. Keep stirring the milk to prevent it from sticking to the bottom. Once the milk comes to a boil, lower the heat and let it simmer for 10 minutes.

Step 3: Prepare the Sugar Syrup In another pan, add the sugar and 1 cup of water. Heat the mixture on medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Let the syrup boil for 5-7 minutes until it thickens.

Step 4: Cooking the Lauki In a separate pan, add the ghee and heat it on medium heat. Add the grated lauki and cook it for 5-7 minutes until it softens. Once the lauki is cooked, add the boiled milk to it and mix well. Let it cook on low heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 5: Adding the Sugar Syrup Once the lauki is cooked and the milk has thickened, add the sugar syrup to the pan. Mix well and let it cook for another 10-15 minutes on low heat. Keep stirring occasionally.

Step 6: Adding the Flavors Add the cardamom powder and saffron threads to the halwa and mix well. Let it cook for another 5-7 minutes until the halwa thickens and becomes glossy.

Step 7: Garnishing Finally, add the chopped nuts to the halwa and mix well. Keep some nuts aside for garnishing. Turn off the heat and let the halwa cool down for a few minutes. Serve the halwa warm, garnished with chopped nuts.

Tips: Use a heavy-bottomed pan to prevent the milk from sticking to the bottom.

If you prefer a sweeter halwa, add more sugar to the sugar syrup.

You can also add raisins and grated coconut to the halwa-favoured flavour.

To make the halwa vegan, use coconut cream instead of heavy cream and vegetable oil instead of ghee.

In conclusion, lauki ka halwa is a delicious and nutritious dessert that is easy to make at home. With this recipe, you can impress your friends and family with your culinary skills and enjoy a sweet treat that is perfect for any occasion.