Doodhi Halwa | Lauki Halwa

I personally feel that Doodhi Halwa is a very comforting dessert.  Doodhi/ Lauki/ Ghiya/ Bottle gourd is known for its multiple health benefits. So, a dessert made out of healthy doodhi has to be comforting. Isn’t it?  It is my favourite go-to  dessert recipe for 2 reasons – a) it is  extremely easy to make and b)it’s super-delicious.  If you dislike bottle gourd because of its  bland taste, then this halwa is for you.  This recipe transforms the bland lauki into a delicious dish. This halwa is a good way to include bottle gourd in your diet. If the sugar in the dessert bothers you, the same can be replaced with jaggery.

Ingredients
3 cups grated doodhi/lauki (bottle gourd)
2 cups milk
½ cup sugar (or as per taste)
2 tbsp mawa (optional)
1 tsp elaichi powder
1 tsp ghee (clarified butter)
3 tbsp chopped nuts (almonds & pista)

Stepwise Instructions

• Peel the bottlegourd and grate it. Immerse the grated bottlegourd in a bowl of water to avoid turning black.Heat a thick bottomed pan.Squeeze the grated bottlegourd and add to the hot pan.Saute for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the milk.

• Cook this mixture alternating between slow and high flame, stirring occasionally.

• When the bottlegourd is cooked, and the milk has almost evaporated, add the sugar.

• Mix well and cook on a slow flame.
• When the sugar has dissolved completely, add mawa , mix and cook on a slow flame. 
• Allow the mawa to blend well with the mixture .
• When the  milk has evaporated fully, add the cardamom powder, ghee and mix.  

• Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add chopped nuts and mix well.

• Serve hot or refrigerate and serve chilled.

Recipe at a glance

• Peel the bottlegourd and grate it.
• Immerse the grated bottle gourd in water to avoid turning black. 
• Heat a thick bottomed pan.
• Add the grated bottle gourd and saute for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add the milk.
• Cook this mixture alternating between slow and high flame, stirring occasionally.
• When the bottle gourd is cooked and the milk has almost evaporated, add the sugar.
• Mix well and cook on a slow flame.
• When the sugar has dissolved completely, add mawa, mix and cook on a slow flame. 
• Allow the mawa to blend well with the mixture .
• When the  milk has evaporated fully, add the cardamom powder, ghee and mix.  
• Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add chopped nuts and mix well.
• Serve Doodhi Halwa hot or refrigerate and serve chilled.

Note: Adding mawa is completely optional. Mawa gives a slightly grainy texture to the halwa.

Further, if you love halwas, I would like to draw your attention to the recipe of Gajar Halwa