Instant Pot Lauki Halwa

Bottle Gourd Halwa or Lauki ka halwa is a rich Indian dessert recipe made with freshly shredded bottle gourd, milk, and sugar with a generous amount of ghee in an Instant pot Pressure cooker or stovetop. This Lauki halwa can be made vegan and keto-friendly.

I have prepared this Lauki Halwa recipe in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT.

There are many names for Bottle Gourd. In some other Indian languages, it's also called lauki, dudhi, ghiya, sorekai, sorakaya. They are also known as Cucuzza, Calabash, Opo Squash in other countries.

Also, if you like this bottle gourd recipe, check Lauki Chana Dal, Lauki Sabji, Lauki Paratha, and Lauki Soup.

How to Make Lauki Halwa in Instant Pot

Peel the skin, remove the seeds, if any, and grate lauki using a medium-sized blade.

Clean the Instant Pot thoroughly – the steel pot, lid, and sealing ring. If you have an extra sealing ring for sweet foods, use it else, milk may curdle.

Press the SAUTE button on Instant Pot. Add ghee to the pot. Once hot, add the grated lauki, and saute for 2-3 minutes until the raw smell disappears.

Then add milk and mix well.

Close the lid on the pot. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set the timer to 2 minutes.

Once the pot beeps, allow 5 minutes natural pressure release, then do a QUICK RELEASE.

Open the lid and Turn the pot to SAUTE (HIGH) again.

Then add sugar, almond flour/meal, or khoya and cook until all the milk has been reduced (evaporated). It appx takes another 5-6 minutes.

Note: I have added a drop of organic plant-based green food color, but it's optional.

Lastly, add cardamom powder and nuts. Mix well. Press Cancel. Bottle Gourd Halwa will thicken as it cools down.

Stovetop Pot Method

• In a heavy bottom pan, add ghee into the pot, once hot, add shredded lauki/bottle gourd, and saute them in the ghee for about 2-3 minutes.
• Next, add milk. Give a quick stir.
• Cook on medium-low flame for about 10 minutes till the milk thickens or till the gourd is fully cooked, stirring occasionally.
• Add sugar, almond flour to this mixture, and cook on a medium flame for another 2-3 minutes or until it thickens a bit.
• Lastly, add cardamom powder and nuts. Mix well. Turn off the gas. Bottle Gourd Halwa is Ready. Serve hot or chilled.

Variations & Tips

1. If you dont have cardamom, replace it with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
2. To make the halwa richer, you can add condensed milk after the pressure cooking and adjust the sugar quantity accordingly.
3. You can also make lauki ka halwa with khoya or dry milk powder instead of almond flour/meal to thicken and enhance the flavor.
4. I have added 1-2 drops of organic plant-based green food color, but feel free to skip it.
5. Sanitize the Instant Pot steel insert lid, and sealing ring before making sweet to avoid curdling of milk. I always keep an extra sealing ring for sweets separately.

FAQs

More Dessert Recipes

• Milk Powder Burfi
• Carrot Halwa
• Rice Kheer
• Chocolate Makhana
• Moong Dal Payasam
• Shrikhand
• Rava Ladoo

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel for healthy & tasty video recipes. Looking for Instant Pot recipes, then check out my Instant Pot Recipes board on Pinterest.