KADDU JO SHEERO

(Bottle Gourd Pudding)

Ingredients

Bottle gourd (small size) – 1 no.

Sugar – ¾ cup

Ghee – 1 tblsp.

Saffron – few strands

Poppy seeds – 5 gms.

Method

1. Peel and grate the bottle gourd. The grated bottle gourd should be approximately 1 cup in quantity.

2. In a pan, heat ghee on a medium flame. When it starts melting, add grated bottle gourd. Mix well and cover the pan with a lid. The bottle gourd will start emitting water.

3. Cook on a medium flame till the water emitted dries up. Add sugar and stir well.

4. Keep stirring continuously till the sugar caramelizes and blends with the gourd. The consistency of the Sheera will also become thick. Add saffron.

5. When the Sheera becomes golden light green in colour, it is ready to be served.

6. Serve piping hot garnished with poppy seeds.

   Chef’s tip

   Milk can also be added as a variation to this recipe. In that case, ½ cup of milk is added to the gourd once the water dries up. Keep cooking the gourd till the milk has been absorbed – add sugar and repeat the procedure from step no.4.

To Serve

Kaddu jo Sheero can be served with Roasted Pappad as a sweet with any of the meals.