Lauki Halwa (Bottle Gourd Halwa)

Ingredients

• Bottle gourd (lauki) - 3 cup
• Milk - 1 1/2 cup
• Khoya - 1/2 cup
• Sugar - 2 cup
• Ghee - 2 tbsp
• Cardamom powder - 1 tsp
• Cashew nuts or almonds, for garnish

Instructions

1. 1Peel and grate the bottle gourd and grate the khoya; cut a small piece of the gourd and taste it to make sure it is not bitter before you cook it.
2. 2In a wide pan, combine the grated bottle gourd, grated khoya, 2 cups sugar, and 1 1/2 cup milk, then mix everything together so the sugar begins to dissolve.
3. 3Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, and do not cover the pan; continue until most of the moisture has evaporated and the mixture begins to dry.
4. 4Once it is dry, add 2 tbsp ghee and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring so the halwa becomes glossy and comes together.
5. 5Stir in 1 tsp cardamom powder and mix well so the fragrance distributes evenly.
6. 6Transfer the halwa to a bowl, garnish with cashew nuts or almonds (roughly chopped if you like), and let it cool until firm enough to cut into desired shapes.
7. 7Optional: serve warm or allow to cool completely and cut into squares, and enjoy with a dollop of cream if you like.