PUMPKIN HALWA / POOSANI HALWA

         Pumpkin halwa is an Indian dessert made with boiled pumpkin, ghee (clarified butter) and sugar by continuously stirring it over stove till it reduces to a paste. It is then topped with a lot of nuts and dry fruits fried in ghee.  Its a week after Halloween and i couldn't resist myself from trying this dessert.

          Actually, pumpkin is an important vegetable in North India during navratri fasting days. During fasting, people confine themselves to fruits and vegetables and avoid whole grains (as it is considered to absorb negative energies). Hence, pumpkin is used to make various dishes like pumpkin fritters, pumpkin sabzi, pumpkin raita etc., on these fasting days. Pumpkin halwa, with its great dose of nuts and dry fruits, prove to be a great filling dish on such days.
         The one i have posted here is one of the easiest recipes of pumpkin halwa. I eliminated the addition of milk for sheer ease.. It can be included for making it richer.

Cuisine - North Indian
Category - Dessert
Recipe reference - kitchensecretsandsnippets

INGREDIENTS
Pumpkin (Chopped) - 3 cups
Water - 1 cup
Sugar - 1 cup ( adjust as per the pumpkin's sweetness)
Ghee - 1/4 cup
Cardamom powder - a generous pinch

FOR GARNISHING
Ghee - 1 teaspoon
Cashewnuts - 5 to 6 nos (chopped)
Almonds - 5 to 6 nos (chopped)
Pistachio - 5 to 6 nos (chopped)
Raisins - a few (optional)

METHOD
1. Heat the pressure cooker and melt 2 teaspoons of ghee. Add the pumpkins and saute till they start  leaving water.
2. Pressure cook the pumpkin with about a cup of water for about 3 to 4 whistles. Mash the cooked pumpkin with a hand blender after the pressure subsides.
3. Heat a wok and melt the remaining ghee. To it, add the mashed and cooked pumpkin and saute it for a couple of minutes.
4. Now, add sugar ( white sugar or demarara sugar) and cardamom powder.
5. Saute it continuously till it thickens or all the ghee separates out. (It should have a glossy look).
6. Roast all the nuts and raisins in a teaspoon of  ghee and pour it over the halwa. Blend the nuts well with the halwa
7. Serve hot or cold.