Lauki ka Muzaffar 

Ingredients

• 600 g lauki (bottle gourd) • 200 g ghee • 10 g cashew nuts • 10 g almonds, shaved • 15 g munakka raisin • 400 ml full fat milk • 180 g sugar • 150 g milk powder • 100 ml condensed milk • 5 g cardamom powder • silver leaf (optional)

Method

Prepare the bottle gourd

Wash and peel the gourd and grate it using the thicker side of the grater. Take a fresh muslin cloth and add the grated bottle gourd to it to remove the moisture. Keep aside.

For the muzzafar

In a heavy-bottom pan, heat the ghee and put the cashew nuts, munakka raisins and almonds and remove it as it turns golden brown. Now add the grated bottle gourd on a slow heat, keep on stirring it till it becomes dry and sticky. Add the sugar and stir hard, the colour of the bottle gourd will add some shine. Here, add the milk, milk powder and the condensed milk. Add the almonds and cashew nuts and mix well.

Garnish & Serve

Garnish with the munnaka raisins and serve warm or even chilled.

Optionally      

I have used a whole bottle gourd to present this muzaffar. I scooped out half and slowly poached it in a mild sugar syrup with a dash of lemon. After half-done, this gourd is chilled and filled with Lauki ka Muzzafar.