Easy Indian dessert made in the Instant Pot by pressure cooking lauki (bottle gourd) with milk and sugar! This lauki kheer is flavored with cardamom, saffron and rose water!

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 35 minutes
  • Total time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 5
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons ghee (10 ml)
  • 1 tablespoon broken cashews
  • 1 tablespoon golden raisins
  • 2.5 cups grated lauki (bottle gourd, packed, from 600 gram lauki)
  • 3 cups whole milk (24 oz)
  • 1/2 cup sugar (100 grams, or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon kewra water (or rose water)
  • few saffron strands (optional)

Method

  1. Before you start, peel and grate the lauki. Remember to grate the lauki from the thicker side of the grater, if you grate from the thin side, it just loses texture which I like to retain in the kheer. So, grate using the thicker holes.
  2. Press the saute button on the Instant Pot. Once it displays hot, add the ghee. Then add the cashews and raisins. Fry for few seconds until the raisins plump and cashews start becoming golden brown. Remove them from the pot on a plate.
  3. Then add the grated lauki to the pot. Saute for 2 minutes.
  4. Then add the milk and stir. Also add the sugar. Stir and close the pot with the lid.
  5. Press the Porridge button and adjust the time to 9 minutes (on high pressure). Let the pressure release naturally.
  6. Open the pot and press the saute button. Add cardamom powder, kewra water (or rose water) and saffron strands. Also add back the fried cashews and raisins.
  7. Let the kheer simmer on saute for 5 minutes. It will continue to thicken as it cools down.
  8. Serve lauki kheer warm or chilled. I love mine 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.