Bottle gourd pudding with Khoya – easy and healthy

Introduction:

Bottle gound pudding, also know as lucki or doodhi pudding, is a traditional and healthy indian dessert loved by people of all age this sweat this is made from simple ingredients, yes its taste and richness make it truly indulgent. Grated bottle gound is slow cooked with milk and ghee, then sugar and dry fruits are added to make it creamy and flavorful. Adding khoya (mawa) enhances the texture even further, giving it a rich and royal feel. This pudding is perfect for festivals, family gatherings, special occasion or simple to satisfy your sweet cravings. Its light, mildly sweet flavor is appealing to everyone and is also gently on the digestive system. If you are looking for an easy, delicious and healthy dessert that is simple to prepare, bottle gound pudding definitely an ideal choice.

Ingredients:

• Bottle gourd (lauki) 2 cups grated 

• Full cream milk 2 cups 

• Ghee (clarified butter) 3 tablespoons 

• Sugar 1/2 cup or as per taste

• Khoya (mawa) 1/2

• Cardamom powder 1/2 teaspoon 

• Saffron strands (optional) 5 - 6

• Almonds 6 - 8 sliced 

• Cashews 6 - 8 copped 

• Pistachios for garnishing 

 Steps:

1 Prepare the bottle gourd

• wash and peel the bottle gourd. 

• Grate it finely using a grater.

• Squeeze out the excess water from the grated bottle gourd completely. This prevents the pudding from becoming soggy.

2) Start cooking

• Heat ghee a heavy - bottomed pan or non -  stick kadi.

• Add the grated bottle gourd and sauté it on medium flame for about 7 - 8 minutes until the raw smell disappears.

3) Add milk 

• pour in the milk and mix well 

• Cook the mixture on medium flame for 15 - 20 minutes, stirring occasionally,until the milk is mostly absorbed and reduced.

4) Add khoya

• once the milk is reduced, add the crumbled khoya.

• Mix well and cook for 5 - 6 more minutes until the khoya melts and blends into the pudding, making it rich and thick.

5) Add sugar and flavors:

• Now add sugar,cardamon powder and saffron strands.

• Stir well and cook for 5 - 7minutes until the pudding thickens and starts leaving the sides of the pan.

6) Add dry fruits:

• Add chopped almonds and cashews you may also drizzle a little more ghee at this stage for extra richness.

• when the pudding starts releasing ghee it means it's done.

Tips:

•Always squeeze out water from grated bottle gourd before cooking to avoid excess moisture.

• Full cream milk and khoya give a rich creamy texture and enhance the taste.

• You can replace milk and sugar with condensed milk just adjust the quantity accordingly.

• Fresh homemade khoya or store - bought both can be used but mak sure it's fresh and good quality.

Conclusion:

Bottle gound pudding is a dessert that proves how a simple ingredient can be transformed into something, rich creamy and delicious. Whether you prepare if for festivals, family gatherings of just to satisfy your sweet cravings, this pudding never fails to impress. The mild flavor of bottle gound, when combined with milk, khoya, sugar and crunchy dry fruits, turns into a royal treat that feels comforting and indulgent at the same time. If you are looking for a healthy yet tasty sweet dish that is easy to make, bottle gound pudding is definitely worth trying it will surely become the highlight of your dining table. 

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