Kashi Halwa

No. of servings:  4	Stand Time:  15 mins
Preparation Time:  10 mins	Cook Time:  25 mins

A dessert prepared with white pumpkin (or) watermelon rind (or) long gourd, reminds of feasts and weddings.  Made with simple ingredients this is easy to make and delectable to eat!

Ingredients:

• Grated watermelon rind (or) white pumpkin (or) long gourd - 4 cups
• Sugar - 0.5 cup
• Ghee - 0.25 cup
• Elaichi - 5 pods
• Cloves - 4 pods
• Khova - 0.5 cup (optional)

Method:

• After chopping the watermelon, remove the green part of the rind
• Grate the prefered vegetable and mix it with 2 pinches of salt 
• Let it sit for 5-10 minutes
• Put it in a cloth bag and hang for 5 minutes 
• Squeeze out all the water as much as possible
• Save 3 tsp of ghee and heat the rest in a wide-bottomed pan ('Saute' mode in IP)
• Crumble the grated vegetable into the ghee
• Saute well till the raw aroma goes away
• Cover and cook until it ghee starts oozing out of it
• Stir in between to make sure it doesn't burn at the bottom
• Add the remaining 3 tsp of ghee and stir
• When more ghee starts oozing out, add the sugar and stir
• If using, crumble the khova and mix well (It tastes best with khova, certainly!)
• After sugar dissolves and it starts looking shiny, add elaichi and cloves powder
• Mix well and turn off the heat
• If not serving immediately, reheat and serve later
• Tastes best when hot, with ghee oozing out! 

Tips and Tricks:

• Adding a pinch of salt and letting it sit will release the water content faster and squeezing becomes easier
• The very slight saltiness will cut the amount of sugar required in making the halwa
• Putting the grates in a cloth bag makes it easier and faster to squeeze out the water
• Save the water.  Add a pinch of salt and pepper and drink!  It is very nutritious and refreshing as well
• Covering expedites cooking
• Cooking till oil oozes out ensures proper cooking
• Watermelon rind is especially good for women as it fights water-retention and cramps!

Pictures: 

Final Outcome: