Doodhi Halwa

With fasting and feasting being the main activity during the coming two months, I am digging out some of our old time treats. My mom could convert the most bland vegetables into yummy treats. One such vegetable is Bottle Gourd or Doodhi/ Lauki. Its bland but extremely nutritious. It is consumed in its raw form as a vegetable juice, early in the morning. It gives you energy and keeps your body cool. It is used in making doodhi vadi , a sweet meat in bite size pieces, lauki ke kofte is a popular dish , grated into soups and dals , boiled and crushed into raita and used as a base for the popular gujarati snack , Muthia. The uses are many and so are the benefits. This vegetable is  often served in my house. The kids will eat it only in its fancier forms. This halwa is , obviously relised.

500 gms tender bottle gourd, grated.
2 tblsp ghee / clarified butter
1 litre milk
1 cup sugar
4 green cardamoms crushed
sliced nut to garnish

Boil the milk and reduce it to about half. Squeeze the juice out of the finely grated bottle gourd. Heat a heavy bottomed pan and put in the ghee . Add in the dry grated bottle gourd and roast till the vegetable gives out a nutty aroma. Add in the milk and sugar. Sprinkle the cardamom in. Now cook for 15 minutes on low flame. Srve hot or cold, garnished with sliced nuts.