Instant Pot Dudhi Halwa | Lauki Halwa

Dudhi Halwa is a popular Indian dessert made with grated bottle gourd also known as Lauki. This perfectly sweetened, creamy pudding is traditionally flavored with ground cardamom. In my EASY Instant Pot version, I use vanilla for a refreshing twist to this classic recipe.

Jump to:

• Mom's Recipe
• Buying Dudhi(Lauki)
• Tips
• Variations
• Process
• Storing
• Recipe
• To make the dudhi halwa vegan/dairy-free:
• Substitutions 

Mom's Recipe

Dudhi Halwa is my Mom's all-time special dessert! I have so many memories of this dish. She made this more frequently than any other dessert. Sometimes she layered it over her special carrot halwa making it a heavenly treat. Adding a bit of vanilla is her creative twist that makes this dessert very refreshing. If you like the more traditional version, go ahead and add cardamom powder instead of vanilla.

Dudhi or Lauki is a large gourd that is tender and juicy with 92% water content. This mild and versatile vegetable can be used to make desserts, curries, dals, and snacks.

Buying Dudhi(Lauki)

Lauki is available in Indian grocery stores as well as in other Asian markets. Look for a relatively skinny dudhi with light green skin that is not bruised.

Tips

It is easy to make the dudhi halwa vegan/dairy free:

1. replace ghee with neutral cooking oil or vegan butter
2. substitute low-fat milk with nut milk, like almond milk
3. use non-fat dry milk powder instead of almond meal

Variations

• Use ricotta cheese or khoya instead of dry milk powder. This will make the halwa more creamy.
• Stir in 1-2 drops of plant-based green food color along with the vanilla for a pretty green halwa.
• For a nut-free dudhi halwa, simply skip the garnish of nuts and the halwa will still be as delicious.
• Cardamom powder can be used instead of vanilla

Process

• Peel the Dudhi and then cut it into half in the middle. Then cut each half into 4 long wedges, this makes grating large dudhi easier.
• If the dudhi is tender and fresh the inside will not have as many seeds and the white part will be firm. If you find that the seeds are larger or the white part is soft, you can cut the white part along with the seeds and discard them.
• Set the Instant Pot to saute(normal) mode and heat ghee. Add grated dudhi and sauté for a minute. 

• Add low-fat milk. Close Instant Pot with Pressure valve to sealing. Pressure cook for 2 minutes followed by Quick Release (Natural Pressure Release works too). 
• Set the Instant Pot to Saute(normal) mode. Mix the milk powder in the remaining half cup of milk and add it to the Instant Pot. You can also use ricotta cheese here.
• Add sugar and cook for 5 minutes stirring frequently until most of the liquids evaporate and the halwa thickens. If the halwa starts to splutter set the Instant Pot to Saute(less) mode and continue to cook for another 5 minutes. 

• Stir in Vanilla, mix well, and turn the Instant Pot off. Halwa will thicken further as it cools down. Garnish with sliced almonds. Enjoy warm or chilled.

Storing

Dudhi halwa is a great make ahead dessert. It can be refrigerated up to 5 days. To reheat simply microwave.

Do you enjoy Indian desserts? Here are few more recipes to try:

• Carrot Halwa, A quick and easy Instant Pot recipe
• Rice Kheer in the Instant Pot
• Rava Coconut Ladoo, a traditional Maharashtrian dessert made for Diwali
• Saranachi Puri, another one of mom's signature dessert

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Recipe

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