Surakkai Halwa

Ingredients:

Surakkai/Bottle guard-2 medium

2 medium lauki gives around 6-7 cups

sugar-21/2 cups

Milk-1 cup

Condensed milk-1/2 cup(optional)

Cardamom-4

ghee-4 tbsp

cashews-few

raisin-few

Method:Peel the skin and cut into long pieces. Remove the seeds and grate. Heat ghee in a non-stick vessel and fry the cashews and raisins until cashews turn golden brown and set aside.In the same ghee fry the surakkai until all the water is absorbed.(I used rice cooker for whole of the procedure).Now add milk to the surakkai mix and close the cooker and wait until it comes to automatic warm or until the surakkai is cooked well. Then add the sugar and condensed milk and stir thoroughly until it becomes semi solid.Now add the remaining ghee, stir well and close the lid until almost all the liquid is absorbed and halwa does not stick to the sides of the pan.Now halwa is ready.Garnish with fried cashews and raisins.