WHITE PUMPKIN HALWA

1.Grate required quantity of mature pumpkin after removing the skin and seeds.

2. Squeeze out all the water from the grated pumpkin. You can use a big strainer to make this process easier.

3. Measure the pumpkin. Take equal quantity* of sugar. ie 1:1 ratio.(read note)

4.Put the pumpkin and milk[around 1/4 cup-1/2 cup(depends on how well the pumpkin is squeezed) for every one cup of squeezed pumpkin] in a deep, heavy bottom vessel. Cover and let cook on m medium flame for 10 minutes or until the pumpkin turns soft and fully cooked.(this step doesn't need much attention)

5.Take off the lid and cook on high flame until most of the liquid evaporates.

6. Add the sugar and keep cooking on medium flame until it thickens. Keep stirring in between so that the mixture doesn't stick to the bottom. This process takes about 15-20 minutes.(Requires moderate attention)

7. One the mixture turns thick, add 1/4 cup of ghee and keep stirring till all the ghee is absorbed.

8. Cook for further 7-10 minutes stirring every few seconds.(requires high attention)
Switch off flame.

9. Add cardamom powder and mix well.

Note:

I squeezed the pumpkins roughly after grating. So it was not very dry. So I used only about 1/4 cup milk.

After the veggie was cooked in milk, I found that it was extremely bitter. Don't know why. Anyway I proceeded with it and at the end I found no trace of bitterness. So if yours too taste bitter in the beginning, don't worry. The sugar will do its magic.

I eyeballed the quantity of milk and ghee. So adjust accordingly.

The consistency of the halwa before I put off flame was half-string consistency. Just touch the halwa and test for consistency. I am not sure if this is the right consistency but for me, it was perfect.

*With equal quantity of pumpkin and sugar, the halwa was very sweet. But If u prefer moderate sweetness(like me), 3/4th sugar to 1 cup pumpkin should be fine. You can start with 1/2 cup sugar and add more half-way through.

Adding color is optional. Without color, it doesn't look very appealing but I prefer mine without color