Damrot Halwa

Damrot is a delectable Halwa which I first tasted in a marriage in my native place. It is made from Pumpkin and is very famous in South India. It is long time since I had made it. Now it is Halloween time here and we get Pumpkins in all different sizes and shapes. And my previous post Healthy Pumpkin Dosa tells the importance of Pumpkin for our health. So this is my next Pumpkin recipe.

Dumrot Halwa

Ingredients :
Finely Grated Pumpkin - 2 cups
Milk - 1 1/2 cups
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Ghee - 1/2 cup
Cardamom Powder
Nutmeg powder (Jayphal)
Dry fruits for garnishing

Method:

Grate finely the pumpkin. Take the grated cloth in a clean thin cotton cloth. And squeeze it tightly to discard the water from the grated Pumpkin.  

 

Heat ghee in a thick bottomed vessel and add the grated pumpkin.

Keep stirring till the raw smell of the Pumpkin is almost gone. Takes about 7 to 10 min. Keep the gas on medium. When it is done add milk.

Stir frequently, and when it becomes very thick i.e. the Pumpkin gets cooked will in the milk add sugar, cardamom and nutmeg powder.

Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture reaches halwa consistency.I cooked it a little further so that the mixture leaves the sides of the vessel.

Remove from heat, add the dry fruits ( I added the dry fruits shown in the above picture.It gives a good crunchy taste). And transfer it to a greased plate. Garnish with dried fruits. Let it cool, cut into pieces and serve.

And Dumrot Halwa is going to the following events

1) AFAM - Pumpkin hosted by Madhuram of Eggless Cooking 

2) JFI - Festival Treat Event guest hosted by Srivalli of Cooking 4 All Seasons. JFI was initially started by Indira Of Mahanandi
3) Festive Food : Diwali hosted by Priti of Indian Khana
4) FIC : Brown hosted by Sunshinemom of Tongue Ticklers.

Healthy Pumpkin Dosa

The bright oranged color of pumpkin is is loaded with an important antioxidant, beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is one of the plant carotenoids converted to vitamin A in the body. In the conversion to vitamin A, beta carotene performs many important functions in overall health.
Current research indicates that a diet rich in foods containing beta-carotene may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and offers protect against heart disease. Beta-carotene offers protection against other diseases as well as some degenerative aspects of aging.

Pumpkins also contain potassium, fiber, and iron. Pumpkin seed oil and pumpkin seeds are a good source of unsaturated fatty acids ("good fats"). Pumpkin seeds are very good sources of the minerals magnesium, manganese, and phosphorous, and good sources of tryptophan (an amino acid essential for growth and normal metabolism), iron, copper, zinc, and protein.

A study by the USDA indicated that diets high in pumpkin as a fiber source tend to curb the appetite, while providing high nutritional count for the calories consumed. Subjects also absorbed less fat and calories from their food.

So we saw that Pumpkin is a very healthy vegetable. But unfortunately it is not a favourite of many. My husband also does not like it. My children only like to eat pumpkins when I use them in kuzhambu. So I try to use pumpkins in such a way that they don't come to know that I have added it to the food.

One such recipe is Healthy Pumpkin Dosa.

Healthy Pumpkin Dosa 

Ingredients

Raw Rice - 2 cup

Grated Coconut - 1/4 cup

Red Chilli Powder - 1 tb.sp

Shredded Pumpkin - 4 cups

Onion - 1

Mustard Seeds - 1 t.sp (optional)

Cumin Seeds - 1 t.sp (optional)

Salt to taste

Method

Soak the rice for about 3 hours. Grind it to a smooth paste along with coconut, chilli powder & shredded pumpkin. Add salt. And keep it covered for about 5 to 6 hrs. Better over night. Heat oil in a pan. Season the mustard and cumin seeds. Add finely chopped onion & saute for a few minutes, till the onion becomes translucent.  Add this to the dosa batter.  Heat a dosa tawa, smear it with oil slightly and make dosas. Try to make thin dosas as far as possible. Serve hot with the chutney or sambhar of your choice.

This Healthy Pumpkin Dosa is going to AFAM - Pumpkins event guest hosted by Madhuram of Eggless Cooking. AFAM (A Fruit A month) was initially started by Maheswari of Beyond The Usual to appreciate the goodness of fruits.

and 

The Rice Mela hosted by Srivalli of Cooking 4 All Seasons