Hii foodies!!
You cannot refuse to eat halwa if you are from India. Halwa is a delicious sweet dish loaded with lots of dry fruits. There are lots of varieties of halwa available. But have you ever tasted ash gourd halwa? If not, you can try it out with this recipe. Ash gourd is a very healthy vegetable to eat. You can also make halwa out of it and enjoy this healthy alternative.
Ingredients
To cook this recipe, you need some ingredients. Those are:
- Ash gourd- 1 cup (Grated)
- Cashew paste- 1 cup
- Cashew-1 cup (Soaked)
- Water- ½ cup
- Maple syrup- ¼ cup
- Cardamom powder- ¼ teaspoon
- Saffron- 10-12 threads ( soaked in water or vegan milk)
- Raisins- 1 tablespoon
Instructions
From the instructions, it is very clear that the recipe is going to be hundred percent vegan. Also, cashews are going to rule this recipe. You will get a significant flavor of cashew along with the ash gourd. All other things are to enhance the taste. This halwa is actually delicious and healthy as we are using ingredients full of nutrients. Now let’s start the preparations :
- Take a pan and put it on the flame. Make sure it’s hot enough to add the materials.
- Put one cup of grated ash gourd and start cooking it. Stir continuously and roast the mixture perfectly till the water of the vegetable gets perfectly absorbed.
- Once the ash gourd is dry, add 1 cup of cashew paste. Soak 1 cup of cashews before 5 to 6 hours of cooking. Add those also along with the cashew paste.
- You will get a smooth paste after adding it and stirring continuously.
- Now add ¼ cup of maple syrup and ¼ teaspoon of cardamom powder. Crushed cardamom also works better here.
- Add 10-12 threads of saffron that are soaked in water or vegan milk. Soak them before starting the recipe.
- Put one tablespoon of raisins. Mix everything well and then cook for another 1-2 minutes while stirring.
- When it starts sticking to the pan, you have to stir it continuously.
- Once the halwa stops sticking to the pan, serve this vegan super yummy halwa with tea or coffee.
Benefits
Ash gourd halwa is a healthy alternative to regular halwa. There are lots of healthy ingredients added to this halwa. Some of the benefits of vital elements of ash gourd halwa are:
Ash gourd: Manganese, copper, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and other B vitamins are present in ash gourd. However, these quantities usually don’t go over 3% of the DVs for the nutrients.
In addition to vitamin C, ash gourds are a vital source of flavonoids and carotenoids, two antioxidants that may help shield your body from illnesses like type 2 diabetes and heart disease, as well as cellular damage.
Cashew: Cashews are an excellent source of protein, good fats, and antioxidants like polyphenols. They also have a number of other noteworthy health advantages.
Stearic acids, which make up a large portion of the fat in cashews, are thought by experts to have no effect on blood cholesterol levels. According to research, persons who consume cashews in small quantities each day have a slight decrease in LDL “bad” cholesterol. Due to their high magnesium concentration, cashews may also aid in the prevention of heart disease in addition to decreasing LDL cholesterol levels. The risk of ischemic heart disease, which frequently develops when the heart does not receive enough blood, may be decreased with proper magnesium consumption.
Saffron: Saffron has a lot of antioxidants, just like many other herbs and plants. These compounds aid in the battle against cell deterioration and may shield against cancer and other disorders. Additionally, studies have suggested that saffron’s antioxidants may benefit your brain and nerve system.
Three antioxidants present in saffron—crocetin, crocin, and safranal—may aid in memory and learning improvement. These chemicals might potentially defend against neurological diseases like Parkinson’s.
So, next time you plan to cook some halwa, try this ash gourd halwa recipe and we are sure you will love its amazing taste and its numerous benefits.
Mrs. Pushpa Khurana is a remarkable academic and culinary expert who has excelled in both education and cooking. Her academic Read more
