Karnataka Style Kashi Halwa Is Perfect To Soothe Your Sweet Tooth

By Aanchal Mathur

Generally prepared during celebratory feasts, Kashi halwa is a classic sweet-treat from the Udupi cuisine of Karnataka made of ash gourd (petha) and oodles of ghee and dry fruits. 

With a soft and tender texture Kashi halwa tends to melt in your mouth in no time and can be an ideal addition to a dessert menu to satisfy your sweet tooth. 

Ingredients

2 cups of grated ash gourd ½ cup sugar (or more, as per taste) A pinch of salt A pinch of saffron (kesar) 3 to 4 tbsp of ghee 2 tbsp dry fruits and nuts of your choice ½ tsp cardamom (elaichi) powder 

Take a wok and add the grated ash gourd to it. Cook it on medium flame till the excess water evaporates. 

Add sugar and saffron to the well-cooked ash gourd and stir. After a while, add a pinch of salt to it.  

When the sugar gets completely dissolved, add ghee to it and stir continuously; leave one tbsp of ghee for later use. 

Add the left-over 1 tbsp ghee to a pan and fry the dry fruits and nuts. 

Add the dry fruits and nuts and cardamom powder to the halwa and cook till it releases ghee.