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“Doodhi ka Halwa” serves 5
“Doodhi ka Halwa” or White Gourd Pudding is a simple and delectable Indian dessert made using only 3 ingredients. White gourd is first peeled, seeds removed and grated. Then, it is simmered in whole milk and sugar. Finally, green cardamom powder is added for flavor. Garnish with chopped almonds or edible and flavorless silver paper known as “Varq”, (very reasonably priced and easily available at your local Indian grocery store. I love to serve it in silver bowls for a fancy and festive look.
“Doodhi” or white gourd is light green vegetable on the outside and is white inside. I often buy it in bulk at my local Indian grocery store. It is known to have many health benefits. It is great for digestion and the liver, excellent source of nutirition but most importantly ( for me ) it helps to lose weight (minus the sugar and ghee). We often juice it at home by adding a little ginger to it. Tastes refreshing!
Growing up, my mother would often make this for us. I guess being a working mother, she hardly had time to make the exotic cakes but would indulge us with this perfect and simple treat. My sister and I would fight for the very last bite and very often my mother would have to hide it from me , as I could go through the entire bowl myself. I was so happy to see my daughter enjoy it with the same fervor as I did and still do!
Ingredients:
4 cups grated white gourd “doodhi or lauki” (I used 2 medium sized white gourds, peeled and grated)
8 cups whole milk
1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon green cardamom powder
Garnish:
1 sheet of edible silver paper/ “Varq”
1/4 cup sliced almonds
Method:
Peel, cut the ends off and slit the gourd lengthwise in the middle. Remove the seeds inside the white flesh, grate and keep aside.
Take a heavy bottomed pan (I used a dutch oven) and add the grated gourd, milk and sugar.
Keep on low heat for the first 45 minutes and then turn it up to medium heat and let it cook. Keep stirring occasionally, making sure the bottom does not get burnt.
After the milk is completely evaporated, (which will approximately take 2 hours and 20 minutes) the mixture will be thick. Add green cardamom powder and mix well.
Let it cool. Transfer to a serving bowl and chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.
At the time of serving, garnish with edible silver paper and chopped almonds. Enjoy!
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I have never heard of a doodhi before! this looks delicious!
An interesting recipe. I’d love to taste that halwa.
Cheers,
Rosa
This brings back memorises of my grandma making this in India – such a simple but exquisite dessert
Love your recipe!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thank you Uru,
My mother still indulges me when I go back to visit her by making my favorite Indian dessert. Only this time, I beg her to hide it.
I always learn about so many new things from you Asmita. This sounds very good! Isn’t it fun to watch your own kids enjoy some of your favorite childhood memories!
Hi Kristy,
Thanks so much. It was fun to see your kids enjoy the same things you did as a kid. Brings back lots of happy memories.
Look really delicious!!
I like simple and flavoursome puddings! When I’m shopping I see vegetables like doodhi and think what could I do with it???? Thank you for sharing recipes!
Asmita – puddings are one of the best comfort foods! Yours sounds so delicious – love cardamom!
Is that same as ‘bottle gourd’? It looks very tasty!
Hi Angie,
Yes, it is the same as bottle gourd. It is one of my favorite desserts ever!
Well, this is something totally new! Not only have I never heard of this type of pudding, but I’ve never seen a Doodhi! It sounds delicious, but then anytime some says “cardamom” I’m ready to grab a soup. Thank you for introducing me to this new ingredient and dish! It looks wonderful!
Thank you so much.
I’ve never had white gourd before, and it’s gourd pudding as a dessert! Very interesting and something new to me. I can totally relate to you about eating mom’s homemade when we go back to our home country…
It’s wonderful that you pass this onto your children. 
Have a great weekend Asmita!
Thanks Nami,
It’s great to be treated to mom’s home cooking. Have a great weekend too!
What a delicious sounding and different dessert! Very creative.
oh wow! I love how simple this is! looks great!
I love seeing unique cultural dishes! This looks very good and I love the minimal ingredients!
Thanks Brittany.
Hi Asmita,
I think the chances of me finding such an ingredient (gourd) are almost impossible, so I’ll have to just enjoy looking instead, but it sounds so interesting. It’s really nice to see other “types” of halwa too. In north Africa, halwa is quite a firm paste, made with nut butters and sugar, but I read that in some Indian and Asian countries it’s made differently. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Charles. I really wish I could send you some to taste.
I’ve heard about this halwa, but never tasted. It looks so delish, Asmita
i have always seen this recipe in indian cookbooks but for some reason, never made it. something about using a white gourd in a pudding always threw me off …lol.
but, i love how it looks and i think hubby would love this. so, i should try it out
Thank you for teaching me something new. I’ve never heard of white gourd before
So simple!
Not sure I can find guord here but I will definetly be looking for it
this sounds really interesting and I love those elegant serving plates
Thanks Sawsan.
Asmita, your posts are so educational: I learn so many new things! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Marina,
This is just what I have grown up eating. “Doodhi” is really common in India. I hope you try it.
they always call it pumpkin here. Actually they say dhudi for this gourd and for the orange pumpkin. Sometimes I wished they were more detailed in giving names here around. ^.^ Iam not sure if I had tasted thsi dish before, it might be in a friends house. Juicing it sounds like an excellent idea. what if I d add pudinara with it?
Hi Helene,
Pudina (mint) is a great idea. Doodhi or white gourd has a lot of water in it and takes the flavor of anything well. A chilled glass of doodhi juice with pudina sounds great!. So refreshing!
This is a new dish to me. So simple, although finding the right gourd might take a bit of a search. But it sounds wonderful – definitely something I need to try. Thanks.
Yummy and a bit healthy too!
I’ve seen so many people bring me halwa just never figured out how it was made. Heh. Sounds delicious, A!
Thanks Anuradha,
My mom would make this very often for my sister and me. Just so easy to make and more importantly, we love it!
Super tempting and those serving dishes look gorgeous..
This sounds like a really comforting dish, I’ve never come across it before!
I desperately want to get my hands on a gourd! I don’t think I can get them here but I see delicious meals made with them.
well this looks amazing. So comforting and inviting
What a beautiful recipe that you can pass on from your mother to your daughter! I love recipes that have history like that. I’ve never heard of doodhi before so thank you for educating me! That silver paper looks especially cool!
Halwa in all versions is a sweet that is made from Mediterranean to India and even beyond! I love the silver leaves on top of it, they give this halwa a royal flavor!
This looks excellent!! I’ve never had this pudding before! My co-worker was saying it’s really yummy and she loves it!! haha.. I gotta try this some time!!
Wow! what can I say asmita.
The halwa looks d-i-v-i-n-e!
The time to keep it in a pot looks long but the preparation is very simple so its definitely easy to make.I didn’t know that.
My grandma makes these.The halwa is sooo… soft that it melts in the mouth.
Great recipe Asmita!
Loving your recipes! EVeryone in my hosue is so sick of doodhi – am gonna try this halva – but milk reduction for over 2 hours – seems tiring! Any way to substitute the whole milk and sugar with condensed milk?
Hi Kavita,
Thank you so much. Yes, 2 hours does seem long but you just stir it once every 15 minutes and let it just cook away.
Instead of khoya, i add the whole milk and cook it slowly. I haven’t tried making it using condensed milk but do know some of my friends have.
I don’t have the exact propotions for that recipe but will ask one of my friends. This recipe is a tried and tested recipe taken from my mom.
Dear Asmita,
This looks amazing. Can’t wait to try it. I am not the best cook around so I hope the time investment pays off!
Thanks!
I have an intimate fondness with Indian sweets, as my Indian nanny used to make them for me growing up. I’ve never had this white gourd pudding before and am so intrigued to try it!
wow, who knew you could turn lauki into a halwa recipe. Crazy! i love halwa, the possibilities are endless.