Lauki Halwa Recipe
Lauki Halwa is one of the most popular Indian desserts. Whether eaten cold or hot with a dollop of ice cream, the rich and enticing flavour of the dessert is enjoyed by one and all. Lauki Halwa for babies is a dish that can be served to your munchkin for breakfast or mid-day snack. What more, it is simple to make and is done within minutes.
Cooking Time
Type | Time (hh:mm:ss) |
Preparation Time | 00:10:00 |
Cook Time | 00:20:00 |
Total Time | 00:30:00 |
Cooking Method
Gas Stove, Induction
Type of Meal
Vegetarian
Suitable For
Toddlers older than 13 months of age
Meal Schedule
Breakfast, Dessert after Lunch or Dinner, Mid-day snack.
Recipe Type
Main Dish or Dessert
Ingredients
Ingredients | Quantity |
Bottle Gourd or Lauki ( peeled and grated) | 2 cups |
Ghee | 3-5 tablespoons |
Mawa ( optional) | ½ cup |
Sugar | 2 cups |
Cardamom powder | ½ teaspoon |
Warm milk | 2 tablespoon |
Almonds and Pistachios (chopped lengthwise) | A handful |
Instructions
All you need to make Lauki Halwa for babies is a pressure cooker and the ingredients. Follow the step-by-step guide to make it in a jiffy.
- Heat the ghee in a pressure cooker. Add the grated lauki and mawa and saute on a medium flame for about 2-3 minutes.
- Once done, add the sugar, cardamom powder, 2 tablespoons of warm milk, 2 tablespoons of hot water. Mix it well.
- Close the pressure cooker with its lid.
- Pressure cook on a medium flame for 2 whistles.
- Let the steam escape and open the lid carefully.
- Now cook this mixture for another 5-8 minutes on a low flame until all the water content is evaporated.
- Garnish with almonds and pistachios.
Recipe Tips
A few things that will help you perfect this dessert are listed below:
- This home-made Lauki Halwa baby food recipe can be made without mawa or khoya, which gives it some thickness and creaminess to the dish.
- You can eliminate the water and add another couple of tablespoons of milk. This will enhance the flavour of the dish as it tastes richer.
- Peel the lauki well and make sure there is no skin left before you grate it.
- Make sure you cook the dish on a medium flame. Make sure that you let all the water content evaporate completely.
So, Lauki Halwa can be a great dessert recipe, but do you know it is a healthy dessert option too? Let’s take a look at its nutritional value per 100 gms and its health benefits for babies.
Nutrition Information (Per 100 Grams)
Type | Value |
Calories | 317 kCal |
Carbohydrates | 40.9 grams |
Protein | 4 grams |
Fat | 14.9 gms |
Cholesterol | 1.2 mg |
Protein | 4 grams |
Sodium | 14.7 milligram |
Dietary fibre | 15 grams |
Health Benefits
This simple Lauki Halwa recipe maybe a sweet dish with sugar but it does have its health benefits. Read on to find out more:
- Lauki is rich in both soluble and insoluble dietary fibre. It helps to cure flatulence and constipation troubles.
- It is made of 96% of water and therefore excellent to stay hydrated.
- Lauki is rich in iron, Vitamin B, and Vitamin C. It is also rich in antioxidants.
- Vitamin C in lauki helps build immunity.
- Almonds are full of healthy fat, protein, magnesium, and Vitamin E.
- Pistachios are a rich source of thiamine, Vitamin B6, fibre, protein, and antioxidants.
When you want to make a tasty as well as a healthy dish, it is important that you buy quality ingredients. Here’s a quick buying guide you can use to pick your ingredients to make a delicious halwa.
Buying Guide
Making Lauki Halwa for babies may seem very simple. But you need to be a bit careful when you source ingredients for it. Just follow the tips given below to never go wrong with the recipe:
- The lauki bought should have smooth skin and must be pale green. It should also be free of any cuts, blemishes or spots.
- It must be firm, and the flesh of the vegetable should not be soft when pressed.
- Try to source organic lauki as it will be free from chemicals and pesticides.
- Buy organic sugar as it will be processed using natural ingredients.
There is no better end to a meal than a bowl of Lauki Halwa served with dollops of ghee and dry fruits. You could well introduce this as a breakfast menu to your child every once in a while. It is a great change to the normal dosas, parathas, or cereals, and as much healthy because it is made with a vegetable. In case you want to offer a healthy alternative to processed and packaged snacks to your kid, then try this Lauki Halwa recipe for your kid. You can make it and refrigerate it for 2 to 3 days also.