Lauki Halwa is the classic dessert recipe made with bottle gourd and it's also known by the name as "Dudhi/doodhi/sorekai Halwa" in various parts of India. When i searched for holi sweets, i came to know that Bottle Hourd halwa is one of the sweet prepared during this festival and the preparation of this halwa is almost similar like Carrot halwa.I had prepared carrot halwa many times before, so i was confident in making this halwa.

In traditional method of making this halwa requires lot of time to reduce the milk.But usually when i prepare carrot halwa, i use pressure cooker to cook the veggies & instead of khoya i use milk powder to make the process easy & quick.I followed the same method here and the halwa turned out heavenly delicious and seriously i couldn't stop eating it.

While eating this halwa,my mind voice was like "even with milk powder, it tastes this much good,how would it taste if prepared in traditional way😀" I think soon i will make this again in traditional way.

Lauki/Dudhi Halwa

Preparation Time : 10 mins | Cooking Time : 35 mins | Serves : 2
Recipe Category: Sweets/Dessert | Recipe Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients
Bottle gourd(small) - 1(yields 1.5 cups of grated bottle gourd)
Sugar - 1/4 cup(heaped)
Milk Powder - 1/4 cup
Milk - 1/4 cup
Ghee - 1 1/2 to 2 tbsp
Cashews(broken) - 1 tsp
Cardamom(crushed) - 3
Green food color - a pinch(optional)

Procedure

First peel the bottle gourd, cut into half and remove the seeds in the center,then grate the bottle gourd, squeeze the water and keep it aside. Heat 1 tbsp of ghee in the pressure cooker.

Add the grated bottle gourd and saute in ghee for 1 mins, then add the milk and bring to boil.

Cover the cooker with lid,put on weight and cook it for 2 whistle.Once the pressure released automatically from the cooker, open the lid, now all the moisture from the milk evaporates and the bottle gourd is well cooked.

Place it on heat agin and add the sugar & mix it well.

Then add the milk powder and mix it well. Keep the flame in medium and stir occasionally to avoid sticking at the bottom.

Add the food color at this stage and cook till all the moisture evaporates.In the mean time, fry the cashews in the remaining ghee and add it to the halwa.

Finally add cardamom, mix it well & Switch off the flame.

That's Tasty Lauki/Dudhi/Bottle Gourd/Sorekai Halwa is ready.

Related:How to make Carrot halwa

Notes:

Make sure that the bottle gourd is well cooked before adding sugar.
Here i'm using non-fat milk powder, but you can use any type of milk powder or even you can use the store brought khoya.
I have the stock of home made food color made from spinach,so i used that here.
Add any types of nuts like pistachio,badam etc.
Squeeze the bottle gourd well,before add it in ghee.
If you feel that the moisture content in bottle gourd is less, then add extra 2 tbsp of milk while cooking bottle gourd, otherwise it will burnt at the bottom.