An easy, delicious vegetarian gravy recipe for the perfect Thanksgiving meal with vegan and gluten-free options.
Doodhi Halwa or Bottle Gourd Halwa
I have already talked about my family lack of sweet tooth so many times that you must be all bored. But that does not stop me from trying out new recipes or reinventing the old ones now that I have found appreciative ‘Bakaras & Bakaris’ at work!! 🙂
For Duserra I decided to make Doodhi Halwa or as it is known as in Goa “Konkan Doodhi Halwo”!
Now Doodhi or bottle gourd has a lot of health benefits (check here) as Ramdev Baba has kept telling us so hubby dear has stopped grumbling when I buy it. Thanks a lot Baba because of you I have tried many ways of including this veggie in our diet masking it many a times.
Believe me I have used it in Thalipeeth, Pav bhaji, Kofta, Paratha, even tried chutney!! Now the girls have stopped guessing what I am upto.
I have it the day Apeksha will decide that she wants to learn cooking the cat will be out of the bag and I will tumble like nine pins! Guess each dog has its own day and I have had mine.
Coming back to the halwa there was a cookery competition the theme was desserts and I had decided to participate. Desserts mean sweets and hence I made this halwa and not mentioned it at home. I mean they knew there was this competition and I had entered it but to all appearances, I was going to carry Jam Tarts.
We had some guests and since this halwa was ready I served it. After they left (thank God) hubby dear asked me what on earth was it that what I servedL . But when I carried it to Office today everyone loved it. So I thought I will share it here with you friends and let you make up your mind about “what on earth”!
Ingredients:
1 cup (and a little more) Doodhi grated (approx)
2 teaspoon Ghee (tastes better with home made ghee)
½ cup sugar
1 tblspn water
Raisins and cashew nuts
Elichi powder
Kesar or saffron strands
Method:
1. In a kadhai/wok add the grated doodhi and ghee. Fry till the doodhi wilts and you get a nice aroma. Please do this on a low flame and stir constantly to prevent it from burning.
2. I had not measured the amount of grated doodhi before but did so after frying it was 1 cup. Keep aside.
3. In the same kadhai/wok add the cashew nuts and raisins and stir fry till the cashew nuts are slightly brown. Remove and mix with the fried bottle gourd, elaichi and saffron. I used the fine pieces that we get here called kani do buy it when you come down to Goa it can be used very conveniently in most gravy and is cheaper than the regular cashew nut.
4. Now in the same kadhai/wok add the sugar and water. Heat and stir till sugar melts. Boil add a drop of the syrup added to a cup of water. The drop of syrup should form a soft ball. Your syrup is ready.
5. Now add the mixed bottle gourd and stir. The whole mixture becomes watery don’t panic. Continue boiling it on low flame stirring occasionally. Till the mix come to the centre and forms a lump. Continue heating for about 5 minutes again on low flame stir constantly.
6. Switch off the gas and cool a bit. Form balls and serve.
P.S.: 1.If you want the halwa in a form of cubes continue heating the mixture. You will understand that the halwa is done when the sugar starts crystallising on the sides of the vessel. Remove on a greased tray. Pat with another small plate greased side down. Cut when slightly warm.
2. You can also use mava or khoya to get a richer halwa.
Sending this to
Celebrate Sweets with fruits & veggies brain child of Nivedita
Only Sweets hosted by Gayatri and started by Pari
![[Only%2520Sweets%255B8%255D.png]](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KldNmhSTMPA/Tn7tHOzzQkI/AAAAAAAAJ5c/W59UFXmmBNo/s320/Only%252520Sweets%25255B8%25255D.png)
Archana
Umm Mymoonah says
Oooh! Yummy! Looks very delicious.
Pushpa says
Halwa looks delicious.
girlichef says
Yum, these look sticky and delicious and perfect 😀
Sravs says
Looks yummy !! perfectly made !!
Ongoing Event – CC-What's For Friday Dinner??
Amy says
sounds tasty & sweet….want to give it a try.I am not good in cooking sweets at all.Hope this one will work for me….
Priya Sreeram says
archana I remember having this halwa a long time back and still remember its taste- nice recipe !
Torviewtoronto says
delicious looking halwa Archana
Kaveri says
Delicious halwa…one of my favorites..like the way you've presented it.
Prathima Rao says
Delicious & scrumptious halwa!!! Would love to taste it when I visit Goa sometime :))
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner
Premalatha Aravindhan says
wow delicious halwa,luks yum…
RAKS KITCHEN says
Looks really delicious and thank you for sending it across!
foodie @ tastingpot says
i like your pictures and would like to invite you to share them on tastingspot.com
Prathibha says
love this halwa..looks delicious
Sensible Vegetarian says
I love Doodhi halwa, looks superb.
Priya says
Delicious and irresistible halwa..
Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal says
wow, that looks superb and greatly presented too.
Panchamrutham says
First time to ur lovely space….
Simply irresistible halwa
http://www.panchamrutham.blogspot.com/
Sushma Mallya says
Looks delicious and beautifully presented!
MyKitchen Flavors-BonAppetit!. says
Yummy halwa.Deliciously clicked and presented well.Luv it.
Gayathri NG says
I luv this halwa drooling here…
Gayathri NG says
I luv this halwa drooling here…
Archana says
Thanks all of you. Love you guys too.
Jay says
never tasted this…sounds yummmm…:P
Tasty Appetite
Prerana Khanwalkar says
Yummy Halwa .nice presentation .You can visit my version also at http://savorindian.blogspot.com/2013/08/doodhi-halwa-lauki-halwa.html