I was honestly tired of making Gajar Halwa – although its a family favourite, it was nearing its expiry date in terms of being the first choice for festivals / quick desserts for unexpected guests / luncheons / potluck parties. As a family, we are also quite conscious about how much oil and sugar we consume . So, when I saw a nice fresh lauki (bottle gourd) peeking from the pantry, I quickly rustled up this Gajar and Lauki Halwa (adapted from my bookmark here) for the Diwali festival, where we had some friends dropping in. And voila ! It was guilt free too (to an extent) as I didnt use ghee at all, but some mawa (unsweetened solidified milk fudge). For sweet lovers, i would recommend they up the sugar a bit more , but for my family and those who dropped in – it was the perfect taste. Hope you would also make this dish for your family and enjoy the mild sweetness with a hint of sugar and saffron and crunchy fried nuts to complete that divine experience. I served this with a Mixed Bhajia platter to the guests for a quick evening snack, and the combo was enthusiastically received 🙂
Sending this quick dish to:
Blogging Marathon (Day 3), Radhika’s Diwali event, Khushi’s My Diwali My Way, Anu’s Diwali – festival of lights, Krithi and Denny’s Serve It Festival Potluck, Pari’s Only Sweets & Desserts hosted by Gayathri & also to Priya & Aipi’s Tuesday’s bookmarked recipes.
Check out my fellow marathoners here
See other Indian Sweets here
Prep time : 10 mins. Cooking time : 15 mins. Serves : 4
Ingredients:
- Carrots – 2 large
- Lauki / bottle gourd – 1 medium
- Mawa / condensed unsweetened milk fudge – 2 TBSP
- Sugar – 3 TBSP
- Condensed Milk – 3 TBSP
- Milk – 1/4 cup
- Saffron – a few strands
- Cardamom – 1 no.
- Almonds / raisins / Cashew for garnish
Method:
1) Wash, peel and grate carrots and bottle gourd finely. Place the veggies in a deep bottomed vessel. Add the milk and pressure cook for 3 whistles. Cool and drain all the water from cooked veggies.
2) Powder the sugar with cardamom in a spice grinder.
3) In a thick non stick pan, add the boiled veggies and half the mawa and stir continuously on a slow flame.
4) When the halwa reduces by 1/4 or 1/3, add the powdered sugar and stir again on a low- medium flame. Once the sugar melts and the oil (from the mawa) begins to separate, add the remaining mawa and give it a vigorous stir for 5 – 7 mins (get those arm muscles moving :-)).
5) Now add the saffron and the nuts (if you wish, you may lightly fry the raisins in just a drop of ghee) and serve warm. This halwa goes very well with a plate of mixed hot bhajias!
Yummy halwa.. Looks yummy..
That's a nice combo and a very happy diwali to u and ur family Kalyani.
looks yummy….
Have a wonderful Diwali 🙂
super combo…loving the halwa
thats good combination, makes it non seasonal as well
Nice one .. love the combo.
Vardhini
Event: Halloween Fiesta
Yummy halwa looks so colourful…
Super tempting halwa, cant believe its ghee free..delicious!
Happy diwali …
Wow looks yummy and delicious ….
Thanks a lovely one!..Happy Diwali Kalyani.
Ghee-free Healthy Carrot Halwa.I can eat a plateful then.Luv it.Dear Blogger Friend,Wish U a Warm and Happy Diwali.Enjoy the Festivities with taste-filled delights,Safe and Delicious Memorable Moments – Regards, Christy Gerald
It is really a treat for Diwali. Happy Diwali Kalyani!!!
Cheers,
Uma
My Kitchen Experiments
Wow Kalyani I will have it all by itself and then with the bhajias please. Its delicious.
I am hosting a new event which I am calling Back to our Roots. Do check out my event and send me your entries from 15/10/11 to 30/11/11.
Voww!!! halwa looks real yummm!!!!
A delightful and a colorful Halwa for Diwali!! Have a good one!
Lovely halwa… Wish you a very happy Diwali.
-Lavanya
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My God,that's too tempting.SO colourful with saffron..Yum yum.
Happy Deewali to you and family !
Looks great Kalyani.. Love the saffron colors! Happy Diwali
Yummy and delicious. Happy Deepavali to you and your family.
no ghee then it surely is a hit!…good one…ya carrot halwa sure gets boring after a while! 🙂
very very inviting Kalyani!!!!!drooling here:-)
Yummy halwa…
Yummy halwa. BTW, I didn't know that this many festive food themed events are going on. 🙂
Lovely color and lovely mouth-watering halwa!
Looks vibrant and very tempting…