Mom's Recipies

Carrot  Bottle Gourd  Halwa is an authentic dish which is perfect to serve on all occasions and festivals.
Pressure cooker carrot bottle gourd halwa  is the quickest and easiest method  as it doesn’t involve much of standing and stirring as in the traditional method.This recipe can be made just in 30 mins.So if you have sudden guests or the sudden sweet cravings you can try this method of making carrot bottle gourd halwa in pressure cooker.

Type - Dessert
Cuisine - Indian
Serves - 3

Ingredients

    carrot :- 1 cup  (grated or crushed in grinder)
    bottle gourd:- 1 cup ( half piece ) grated or crushed in grinder
    ghee:- 2 tbsp
    sugar:- 1/2 cup
    Milk :- 1 1/2 Cups
    cardamom Podwer:- 1/2 tsp
    For Garnishing:- 1 tbsp of roasted sunflower seeds , raisins ,chopped almonds
    Pinch of saffron soaked in  1 tablespoon lukewarm milk

Method:-

1) Wash the carrots thoroughly under water. Then peel the carrots and bottle gourd with peeler.


2)  Grate the  carrots and bottle gourd with a grater.
3)  Heat the ghee in pressure cooker on medium heat.


4) Add the grated or crushed carrot and bottle gourd in the pressure cooker and saute for 2 minutes.


5) Now add the milk and mix well. Close the  lid of the pressure cooker and cook till 3 whistles on medium heat.Or you can simmer and leave it for 10 mins.
6) Then let the pressure go down itself then open the lid.


7) When you open this is how it looks.Slightly goey with little milk.Now add the sugar.
8) Stir the mixture and keep the cooker on medium flame.


9) Cook in medium flame until it shrinks. Keep on stirring in between.The moment halwa thickens,add cardamom powder ,saffron with milk and add Ghee and give a continuous stir until halwa slightly changes color and it looks little glossy. Switch off the flame.


10)Garnish with fried raisins ,chopped almonds and sunflower seeds.
    Serve hot ,warm or cold.



Serving Suggestions :-

Serve carrot bottle gourd halwa as dessert after dinner or lunch.
To impress guests ,serve warm halwa with scoop of vanilla ice cream on top .

 Tips:

Ghee can be added to this recipe as per your choice.
Sugar can be added as per your choice.

Less or more dry fruits can be added as per your choice.

 
Semiya Kesari is a very easy kesari recipe made with vermicelli .It is quick  and  easy to make  and tastes delicious. Its perfect to make when sudden guests visits us . It needs very little ghee unlike other kesari recipes. Its perfect to make on festive occasions.

Preparation Time:5 minutes
Cooking Time : 20 mins
Serves:4
Cuisine: South Indian

 Ingredients :-

Semiya / Vermicelli - 2 cups loosely packed
Water - 3 cups
Melted Ghee - 6 tsps
Sugar - 1 cup
Cashew nuts - 8 (chopped)
Cardamom powder - a tiny pinch
Saffron - 7-8 strands(optional)
Orange food color - a tiny pinch



Method:-

1)   Heat  a tsp of ghee  in a non pan and roast Semiya /Vermicelli till golden color on a medium flame. Keep it aside.
2) In same pan add 1/2 tsp of ghee  and  roast the chopped cashew nuts till golden brown. Keep it aside.


 
3) Now boil water in a Non stick pan, when it boils add the semiya /Vermicelli and cooked till soft and all the moisture is absorbed.
4) When  the  Semiya /vermicelli is cooked  then add sugar . Mix well.


 
5) Now it will start to loosen up.Keep stirring continuously until it is thick.Then  add food color and saffron and mix well.
 


6) Add Ghee.Mix well.Once it starts to get thick and starts to leave the sides of the pan add cardamom powder,cashewnuts and mix well. Switch off the stove. 

Serve Hot or Warm 
 
Tips:-

 1)  I used fine Bambino vermicelli so needed only 1 and 1/2 cups of water for a cup of vermicelli.Water quantity may vary depending on the variety of vermicelli.
2) Roast Vermicelli /Semiya well  so it gives nice aroma and  its non sticky and will avoid mushiness while getting cooked.
3) Always ensure that the semiya will get cooked properly.
4)  Do not add sugar before the semiya gets cooked  properly else the kesari will turn rubbery.
5  This keeps well for 3 days if refrigerated .While serving just heat it up and drizzle little ghee and serve hot or warm.