Go Green with some Lauki Ka Halwa

I have been wanting to try this recipe for a long time now. I remember this friend of mine making this for me when I was in college but when I saw her make it I never thought I would ever get down to making this sweet treat the reason being the elaborate procedure. I could not manage stirring this the Lauki with milk and sugar for an hour or so in a hot Indian kitchen. Mind you its really hot here..Uff!!!... So I swore to find a easy alternative to this recipe where I could make it in a jiffy.. My desire came true the other day when I made it in my kitchen. I did not get this idea all by myself so I cant shout Eureka Eureka :(... I saw one of my favorite chef cooking this on TV.. Yes.. Aditya Bal of NDTV Good Times and I said to myself 'this is so simple and a must try'.

Thus this sweet treat reincarnated in my kitchen... As sweet as the traditional version..LAUKI KA HALWA...

You need:

1 small Lauki, Bottle Gaurd

3 Tbsp sugar (depends on how sweet you want it)

2 cups milk

4 pods of cardamom (remove the seeds and pound it)

3 tbsp clarified butter or ghee

Salt to taste

Make it:

Take a wok and add ghee to it.

Once the ghee is hot add the Lauki and cook till it changes colour to a brownish green. Add salt while cooking it

Then add sugar and cook.

While the Lauki is cooking, take another vessel and heat milk to half its original quantity.

When the milk has started simmering add the cardamom seeds. This will infuse the milk with the flavor and your kitchen will be hit with a sweet aroma.

Once the Lauki is cooked add the milk and let it cook till all the milk evaporates.

Milk will Evaporate in 5 to 10 min.

Garnish it with cashew nuts or any nut you like.

NOTE:

Let the milk condense to half, this will make the last procedure fast. You will not be in the kitchen stirring it for long

Keep stirring the Lauki when you are cooking it. Chances are that it may burn if left unattended.

I used Jaggery instead of sugar. It tasted awesome :)

You can fry the nuts with ghee  at the beginning and then use it for garnishing. It brings out the flavor of the nut.

To make pounding of the cardamom seeds easier, heat the seeds in a pan and then pound it. It will powder in no time.
Top it with a dollop of ice cream for extra sweetness.

Indulge!