Kashi Halwa (Ash Gourd Halwa)

Halwaaaaaaa " Kashi Halwa" is an authentic Karnataka speciality sweet dish that is prepared from Ash Gourd. I previously thought that this halwa got tis name from the city Kashi but I was wrong!!! actually Kashi Phal is the name for Ash Gourd in hindi. Hence the name Kashi Halwa.

This is again a very time consuming dish, but you will forget the efforts put to prepare this as soon as you take a spoon full of Halwa. It just melts inside and our taste buds dance out of joy.

Ingredients:  

1. Ash Gourd(Grated, Squeezed) - 2 Cup
2. Milk - 1 Cup
3. Sugar - 1 Cup
4. Ghee - 3 tbsp
5. Saffron -2 to 3 strands
6. Orange food color - a pinch
7. Cashewnut - 1 tbsp
8. Raisins - 1 tbsp
9. Cardamom Powder - ½ tsp

Method:

• Pressure cook the grated and squeezed ash gourd with milk (1 whistle).
• Mix the saffron and food color in a little milk and  add to the cooked ash gourd. Keep aside.
• In a pan add 2 tbsp of ghee and saute the cooked ash gourd in it for 5 minutes.
• Add sugar and keep stirring untill all the sugar is absorbed and the mixture starts leaving sides of the pan.
• Now add 1 tbsp of ghee and mix well
• Add cardamom powder, Cashewnut, Raisins and remove from the stove.

P.S:

• Rememer it is only 1 whistle, if you keep more than one whistle ash gourd gets burnt. 

Serves: 2

Preparation Time:  45min