Bottle gourd – Coconut Halwa

Ingredients

• 2 cups grated bottle gourd (lauki/doodhi)
• 1 cup grated fresh coconut
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp ghee (clarified butter)
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
• A few saffron strands (optional)
• some raisins for garnishing

Steps

1. Use a heavy-bottomed pan or a kadai to heat the ghee.
2. Add the grated bottle gourd; give it 4-5 minutes of sautéing until soft.
3. Follow with the grated coconut and sauté for another 5 minutes.
4. Cook the mixture on low heat after pouring in the milk, continuing until most of the milk evaporates.
5. Add the sugar, mixing it in well, then cook until it has dissolved completely and the mixture is thicker.
6. Distribute the cardamom powder and, if using them, the saffron strands evenly through the halva by stirring.
7. Cook on until the halva is thick like a pudding and begins to pull away from the pan's sides.
8. When done, take the halva off the heat and move it to a serving dish.
9. Garnish the halva with some raisins; serve after it has cooled for a bit.