Bottle Gourd Halwa or Lauki ka halwa is a rich Indian Dessert recipe made with fresh shredded bottle gourd, milk and sugar with generous amount of ghee in Instant pot Pressure cooker or stovetop.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 10 minutes
  • Total time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 3
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

Measuring cup used 1 cup = 250 ml

  • 2 tablespoons ghee (or coconut oil)
  • 2 cups lauki (bottle gourd) (peeled and shredded)
  • 1/2 cup full fat milk ((or unsweetened almond milk))
  • 1/4 cup sugar (or stevia (adjust as per your taste))
  • 1/4 cup almond flour ((or khova/khoya))
  • 1/8 teaspoons cardamom powder
  • 2-3 tablespoons sliced almonds (or pistachios)
  • 1-2 drops green food color (optional)

Method

  1. Peel the skin,remove the seeds if any and grate lauki using medium sized blade.

Instant Pot Method:

  1. Clean the Instant pot thoroughly – the steel pot, lid and sealing ring. If you have an extra sealing ring for sweet foods, use it else milk may curdle.
  2. Press SAUTE button. Add ghee into the pot,once hot add the grated lauki and saute for 2-3 minutes until the raw smell disappears.
  3. Add milk and mix well.
  4. Close the lid on the pot.Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set timer to 2 minutes.
  5. Once the pot beeps,Allow 5 minutes natural pressure release,then do a QUICK RELEASE.Open the lid and Turn the pot to SAUTE(HIGH) again.
  6. Then add sugar, almond flour/meal or khoya and cook until all the milk has been reduced(evaporated).It appx takes another 5-6 minutes. Note: I have added a drop of organic plant based green food color but its totally optional.
  7. Lastly add cardamom powder and nuts. Mix well. Press Cancel. Bottle Gourd Halwa will thicken as it cools down.

Stovetop Pot Method:

  1. In a heavy bottom pan add ghee into the pot,once hot add shredded lauki/bottle gourd and saute them in the ghee for about 2-3 minutes.
  2. Next add milk.Give a quick stir.
  3. Cook on medium low flame for about 10 minutes till milk thickens or till the gourd is fully cooked, stir occasionally.
  4. Add sugar, almond flour to this mixture, and cook on medium flame for another 2-3 minutes or until it thickens a bit.
  5. Lastly add cardamom powder and nuts.Mix well.Turn off the gas.Bottle Gourd Halwa is Ready.Serve hot or chilled.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.