DOODHI HALWA / BOTTLE GOURD HALWA / दुधी हलवा

DUDHI HALWA / BOTTLE GOURD HALWA / दुधी हलवा 

INGREDIENTS

Grated dudhi / bottle gourd	2 ½ cups
Milk	1 ½ cup
Sugar	½ cup
Ghee / clarified butter	2 tbsp
Elaichi pdr / cardamom pdr	½ tsp
Khoya (optional)	2 tbsp
salt	A pinch
Dry fruit (cashew nut, charoli, raisins)	3 – 4 each
Silver varkh	1 sheet

                                          

METHOD:

1.       Peel the dudhi completely to remove the skin.  Use tender dudhi.

2.       Cut it into 4 quarters lengthwise. Remove out and discard the seed in the centre. Grate the remaining flesh.

3.       Heat ghee and add in the grated dudhi. Sauté well till it loses all its moisture and dries out and changes a little colour.

4.       Pour in warm milk and bring to boil. Now simmer and again make sure that the milk also dries out and the dudhi is cooked. In case you feel the milk has split don’t worry. Dry out the whey completely. It makes no difference in the taste.

5.       Water should not split out from the sides.

6.       Add the sugar. As the sugar melt it starts becoming liquidy and runny again. Reduce it till the halwa is semi thick. Add khoya if you like and heat it till it starts to melt.

7.       Add elaichi pdr and dry fruits fried in ghee. Garnish with silver varkh if you like.