Lauki Halwa (Bottle Gourd Halwa) recipe homemade

 Here's a delicious and easy Lauki Halwa (Bottle Gourd Halwa) recipe for you:

🥄 Ingredients:

Lauki (bottle gourd) – 2 cups (grated, skin and seeds removed)

Ghee – 2–3 tablespoons

Full-fat milk – 2 cups

Sugar – ½ cup (adjust to taste)

Cardamom powder – ½ teaspoon

Cashews – 6–8 (chopped)

Almonds – 6–8 (sliced)

Pistachios – optional, for garnish

Raisins – 1 tablespoon (optional)

🍳 Instructions:

1. Prep the lauki:

Peel, deseed, and grate the lauki.

Squeeze out excess water using your hands or a muslin cloth.

2. Cook the lauki:

Heat 2 tablespoons of ghee in a pan.

Add chopped cashews and almonds. Fry until golden. Set aside.

In the same ghee, add the grated lauki and sauté for 4–5 minutes until the raw smell disappears.

3. Add milk and simmer:

Pour in the milk and bring it to a boil.

Reduce the flame and cook on low-medium heat until the milk is absorbed and lauki softens. Stir occasionally.

4. Add sugar:

Add sugar and mix well. The mixture will become liquidy again.

Cook until the halwa thickens and starts leaving the sides of the pan.

5. Flavor and garnish:

Add cardamom powder and the fried nuts.

Stir for another 2 minutes. Optional: Add a little more ghee for shine and richness.

6. Serve warm or chilled, garnished with pistachios or silver leaf for a festive touch.

✅ Tips:

Use fresh and tender lauki for best taste.

You can substitute milk with khoya (mawa) or condensed milk for a richer version.

For a vegan version, use plant-based

 milk and oil instead of ghee.