Lauki Halwa / Bottle Gourd Halwa

Ingredients:

Bottle Gourd/Lauki, peeled and grated – 3 cups (lightly filled)
Whole Milk – 2 cups + 1 tbsp hot milk
Cardamom Powder – 1 tsp
Sugar – 3/4 cup
Ghee – 2 tbsps
Saffron Strands – 7 to 8
Cashew nuts – 1/8 cup
Raisins – 1/8 cup

Method:

1. Soak saffron strands in 1 tbsp hot milk for 10-15 minutes.
2. Take grated bottle gourd and milk in a pan.
3. Place the pan on flame, stirring occasionally. Make sure the pan is big enough as the milk might spill out while boiling. Cook it until all the milk solidifies.
4. Add sugar and cardamom powder. As the sugar melts, the mixture will get watery and eventually solidify.
5. When the sugar solidifies, the liquid content in the mixture will reduce and will start coming together to form a lump.
6.  Now add ghee, saffron milk, cashew nuts and raisins.Start stirring continuously until it forms a lump and turn off the heat.
7. Serve hot. This can be stored for 2-3 days, if stored in air tight container once cooled to room temperature.