Bottle Gourd (Lauki/ Gardudde) in Cardamom Flavored Jaggery Syrup.

"Naivedyam : Bottle Gourd (Lauki/ Gardudde) in Cardamom Flavored Jaggery Syrup" ... simple tasty dish prepared with lauki which has body cooling properties and is a must to be consumed during summer ... Jaggery too has loads of iron content again which needs to be had during summer when you get famished due to the rising heat ..... Yummilicious ..

** This is a simple dessert type of dish prepared with lauki/ gardudde/ bottle gourd cooked in bottle jaggery syrup, that can be offered as Naivedyam too. Bottle gourd is very good for health as the veggie is loaded with cooling properties and as it is available all round the year, you can prepare different types of dishes and relish them round the year. I have posted quite some dishes in this Blog and will be doing so often. 

** Thanks to dear Usha Tukaram for this lovely dish recipe which she posted in my food group Konkani Delicacies a few days back. I had prepared this as Naivedyam on the occasion of Sankashti Chaturthi and was like by all, I have not made any changes and kept it as it the way Usha shared. Personally, I feel this would go very well served with panpolo which I am going to do the next time for sure.

** Here is the recipe for "Naivedyam : Bottle Gourd (Lauki/ Gardudde) in Cardamom Flavored Jaggery Syrup" …

** Peel off the outer thick skin of ½ kg/ 500 gms bottle gourd and then cut it lengthwise into 4 cuts and then vertically in small pieces. If the seeds within are tender you can use them too, just cut them as it is into cubes. Only if the seeds are too large or thick and taste bitter then remove and discard the same and use only the fleshy portion. 

** It is best to choose and buy small tender ones for this particular dessert preparation. Rinse the pieces under running water and then put it into a vessel with about just ½ to 1 cup of water and cook till just done. Remove and keep it aside ready. Do not overcook the bottle gourd or it will lose shape and turn mushy and will also loose on taste.

** In a vessel add in about 200 gms of grated jaggery/ goda with about once cup of water and cook till it just gets melted. If jaggery is not clean then strain it through a fine stainless steel sieve and put it back into vessel and cook till you get one string thread consistency. Do not overcook the jaggery, so remember to keep stirring till you get desired texture.

** Now add in the cooked and kept aside lauki/ bottle gourd/ gardudde pieces and mix well. Cook for another few minutes till it slightly thickens. Remove from flame and allow to rest for about 5 minutes. Now add in a tablespoon of homemade Cow’s ghee/ toop and ½ tsp of freshly ground cardamom/ ellaichi/ yellu powder and mix well.

** "Naivedyam : Bottle Gourd (Lauki/ Gardudde) in Cardamom Flavored Jaggery Syrup" is done and ready to offered to God an there by distributed among family and friends. You can refrigerate and serve it cold as dessert too, it tastes wonderful. You can serve this along with any dosa or with ghee fried slices of bread too, tastes wonderful.