Lauki ka Halwa(Sorakaaya/Bottlegourd halwa)

The other day i was just checking my drafts and came through this post which was pending in my drafts from so many days and was seeking my attention.I had prepared this on the occasion of my FIL's Birthday last month.
Hubby is not a great fan of this vegetable and as long as he does not recognize its form in any food stuff he does not mind eating it,otherwise its a big no....no to this vegetable.But considering the health benefits of this vegetable i try to include this in our daily food in various forms like in vegetable juices,koftas,parathas,rotti's,kheer and halwa.

I tasted this for the first time at my friends place,till then i did not even know that one can prepare halwa even with lauki.I just fell in love with the bright green color of this lovely halwa which is quite different from the regular halwa's.(It retains its green color if it is not cooked for a long time). I prepared this halwa in a similar manner like how i prepare carrot halwa, the outcome was just out standing and this just melts in the mouth and i hope it would also taste fantastic with Ice cream......and here comes the recipe.

Ingredients:
1 Lauki(bottle gourd) peeled,de-seeded and grated
1 cup milk
1/2 tin Condensed milk(200ml approx)
4 tbsp Sugar(add it accordingly)
2 tbsp chopped cashew nuts
2 tbsp flaked almonds
2 tbsp flaked pistachios
2 tbsp raisins
4 tbsp ghee
cherries for decoration(optional)



Method:
Add milk and grated bottle gourd to the cooker.Close cooker and bring to full pressure on high heat and remove cooker immediately from heat.
Release the pressure immediately and open it(or you can cook the lauki in milk on a stove top which is bit time consuming).
Place the cooker on high heat,add sugar and condensed milk and cook until the liquid dries up(approx for 15-20 mins) stirring occasionally.
Add ghee and cook till ghee separates from the mixture(this takes approx 10 mins),stirring constantly.
Heat ghee in a small pan fry cashews and raisins and add this to the halwa,add flaked badam/almonds and pistachios and mix everything.

Serve hot garnished with flaked almonds and pistachios.(I used a cherry also in the picture) or with ice cream.

I am sending this to the event Mithai Mela hosted by srivalli of Cooking 4 all seasons.