VEGAN LAUKI KHEER, a simple and easy Indian milk pudding with grated bottle gourd cooked in coconut milk and sweetened with jaggery; a perfect healthy and quick sweet treat to enjoy any time!
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Many a times, my meal is never complete without something sweet to munch on. I love ice creams, fruits, dates or even store bought cookies that can satisfy my sweet tooth!
But our family favorite is something quick, healthy and Indian; something like lauki ka halwa, carrot halwa, chana dal kichdi, chana dal payasam etc. My current favorite is lauki or bottle gourd kheer.
We always have a bottle gourd at home to partake of fresh lauki juice (spiced with salt and pepper), make lauki kofta curry or mix it with other veggies or fruits to make a smoothie!
So after making some mouthwatering lauki kofta curry recently, I had about half of it which has now metamorphosed into a lip smacking dessert.
Lauki cooks so quick and all you need is 10 minutes of your time to whip up this quick Indian delight!
I have “veganised” it by using coconut milk instead of regular milk and for that Indian flavor, jaggery (unrefined cane sugar) and cardamom powder.
Just cook, peeled and grated lauki with some water and coconut milk for just 5 minutes (yes, that is all it takes), add required amount of jaggery, perfume the kheer with the quintessential Indian spice of desserts, cardamom powder and for more crunch and flavor, garnish with roasted almonds and raisins.
I have added a few strands of saffron for that royal and uber touch!
Now, how easy is that! With Navratri just around the corner and many in India celebrating these special holy days fasting and avoiding certain types of food, lauki kheer is a perfect treat to eat guilt free!
Do try this easy 10-minute, heavenly Indian dessert in your kitchen and enjoy with family and friends this Navratri, or for that matter any festival, holiday, get together or party!
Happy Cooking foodies!
Here are some more easy, lip smacking desserts you may love:
-
Apple Kesari Bhaath
-
Bread Gulab Jamuns in Jaggery Syrup
-
Dates and Oats Payasam
-
Easy Instant Rasmalai
VEGAN LAUKI KHEER
Ingredients
- 2 cups grated lauki/bottle gourd
- 1 cup water
- 1 can 400 ml coconut milk
- ½ cup jaggery/unrefined cane sugar or Jaggery syrup according to taste
- ½ tsp elaichi/cardamom powder
- Few almonds and raisins
- 2 tbsp ghee/oil if vegan
Instructions
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If jaggery is very pure, add directly to the kheer. But if you think it has impurities, melt it with a splash (very little) of water and strain to remove any impurities if any.
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This syrup can be made in large quantities ahead of time and added to desserts, coffee, tea etc. any time!
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Now, to make the lauki kheer.
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Roast grated bottle gourd/ lauki in ghee/oil for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring continuously. Add 1 cup water and cook for 3 minutes. Add coconut milk, jaggery (powdered or syrup), and mix well.
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Bring to a boil and simmer 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in a few strands of saffron, add powdered cardamom and mix well.
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Meanwhile, roast or fry nuts and raisins in ghee or oil if vegan.
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Garnish kheer with saffron, almonds and raisins. Serve hot!
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Enjoy and Happy Cooking!
Recipe Notes
- The same recipe can be done with grated carrots, beetroots, chana dal (cooked in a pressure cooker until al dente or just soft), tapioca /sabudana pearls, fine vermicelli etc.
- You can make this with regular milk too!
- Adjust the sweetness according to personal taste.
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I am sharing this with our gourmet Facebook group "Desi Bloggers Connect" for Navratri 2019. Do check out these other divine, delightful and mouthwatering Navratri dishes shared by my friends:
- Rajgira/Amaranth and Sabudana Khichdi cones by Lata Lala
- Rajgira Thalipeeth by Mayuri
- Javvarisi Payasam by Veena
- Almonds, Cashew and Peanut Ladoo by Priya
- Aloo Makhana Chaat | Potato Fox nut Chaat by Sasmita
- Vegan Rajagiro Siro/Halwa by Jagruti
Join the party at Angie's Fiesta Friday along with co-hosts Molly @FurgalHausfrau and Ai @Aimadeitforyou.
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Have fun cooking, eating and sharing!!!!
This kheer looks so creamy and rich. Loved the idea of making the jaggery syrup in a batch and storing. Amma would actually make the syrup like that since she never used sugar. I loved this kheer all the more because of jaggery in it and the coconut milk added would give a lovely flavour. Awesome recipe
Thanks so much dear <3 Love the flavor of jaggery in any sweet or dessert; so earthy, healthy and yumm!
A think a bit of this would be lovely halfway between dinner and bed time!
Thanks for sharing with us this week at Fiesta Friday!
Mollie
Absolutely Mollie! Perfect, light dessert just before bed time! So happy to be part of Fiesta Friday!
I was thinking just the same, Mollie! Thanks for sharing Vanitha!
Delicious - thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday!
Thanks so much Rita 🙂 Happy FF!
What a wonderful riot of flavours using lauki, jaggery, coconut milk and saffron.
This recipe is such a treat for fasting.
Scrumptious share and a must try
Thanks a bunch Lata 🙂 Yes, just some simple ingredients and a quick kheer to enjoy! A treat for this Navaratri 🙂
Such a simple yet delicious recipe! I have made savory dishes with lauki, but never a sweet dish, need to try this soon!
Oh, then you must try this Priya! It was so delicious, we were having seconds and thirds! Thanks dear!
Such an awesome fasting kheer. Use of lauki is surely loved by any lauki haters too 😉 Same here for me too as I add those crunchies to the kheer and saffron to get that royal touch
Thanks so much dear Sasmita 🙂 I think I love this more than any other kheer; healthy, quick and delicious too, especially with nuts and raisins!
Wow..what a fantastic dish to celebrate to fasting days, lauki, kand jaggery such an unusual combo but you have paired it so well in this dish.
Thanks so much dear 🙂 Fasting or no fasting, we can enjoy this any time!