kaddu ka halwa or pumpkin halwa recipe for fasting or vrat. we often make this pumpkin halwa during the navratri fasting period.
pumpkin or kaddu as we call in hindi, is a veggie that we often use during the navratri fasting period. another recipe from pumpkin which was mil make for navratri fasting is kaddu ki sabzi.
this is a very very easy recipe of pumpkin halwa and the credit goes to my mil. the whole halwa is made in the pressure cooker, saving time and energy. you can also make the halwa in a pan, though. i have mentioned how to make the halwa in the pan in the notes section below. i have shared one more pumpkin halwa recipe that is popular in south india. its called as kashi halwa and the recipe is made with white pumpkin.
there’s not much of ghee or oil used in this recipe unlike the amounts usually added to halwa recipes. we always add melon seeds (magaz) in this halwa and this combination goes very well. apart from melon seeds, other dry fruits like almonds and cashews are also added.
few other recipes which are prepared at my home for navratri fast are sabudana khichdi, singhare ki poori, vrat wale aloo, dahi wali arbi and kuttu ka paratha.
if you are looking for more sweet recipes for fasting then do check sweet potato halwa, papaya halwa, sabudana kheer, makhane ki kheer and sabudana ladoo.
pumpkin halwa recipe below:
pumpkin halwa recipe
ingredients (1 cup = 250 ml)
- 2.5 to 3 cups chopped pumpkin (kaddu or petha)
- ½ cup sugar or as required - also depends upon the sweetness in the pumpkin
- 3 to 4 green cardamoms crushed to a powder in a mortar-pestle (choti elaichi powder)
- 2 tablespoon oil OR 1.5 tablespoon ghee - the halwa taste good with ghee
- 2 teaspoon melon seeds (magaz)
- 1.5 to 2 tablespoon chopped mixed dry fruits (almonds, cashews, pistachios)
- ¾ to 1 cup water
how to make pumpkin halwa recipe
- peel and chop kaddu or pumpkin into small cubes. smaller the better.
- heat the oil or ghee in a pressure cooker.
- add the kaddu pieces in the pressure cooker
- and saute till they are start releasing water or for approx 8-10 minutes on a low flame.
- add water and stir.
- cover and pressure cook the kaddu pieces for 4-5 whistles.
- *for making the halwa in a pan, check notes below.
- open the lid when the pressure settles down
- and check if the kaddu pieces have softened or not.
- they should be of mashable consistency.
- if they have not cooked thoroughly, then pressure cook for few more minutes, adding some more water, if required.
- once the kaddu pieces have cooked well then place the pressure cooker on fire and keep to simmer.
- after 1-2 minutes, add sugar and cardamom powder.
- cook the mixture stirring often till it thickens.
- the consistency of the halwa should like be a pudding or pumpkin puree.
- the water should reduce in the halwa.
- you can thicken it more if you want.
- add the melon seeds and dry fruits and cook the halwa for 1-2 minutes more.
- serve kaddu ka halwa or pumpkin halwa warm or cold.
- you can also garnish the pumpkin halwa with melon seeds.
recipe notes
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When you say cook for 4 to 5 whistles, how many minutes is that?
it will be roughly 10 to 12 minutes on a medium flame for a 2 litre cooker.
This always turns out so well. Made it today.Happy to be able to post comments again and connect. May you be blessed with peace and prosperity.
thank you veena for the comment and feedback on pumpkin halwa. also thanks for your best wishes. yes we opened the comments after a few months as we had some errors happening in the comment fields and it did take a lot of time to get it resolved.
Hi..can I cook it with milk..more like carrot halwa??
yes you can.
Please use instagram. Yo will rock there too with your really impressive food photigraphy. I miss you there
harsangeet, i am already there on instagram at @vegrecipesofindia. at times i do give myself a reminder to update instagram 🙂
Made this sweet. Very easy and delicious. I grated the pumpkin and then cooked it.
Thank you.
welcome mythili. thanks for sharing your positive feedback.
Looking yummy….I like all your recipes they helps me a lot… can I continue the same recipe using pumpkin puree instead of pumpkin cubes if so how many whistles should I pressure cook it…
thanks. you can. if using pumpkin puree, you don’t need to pressure cook as the pumpkin is already cooked. just heat ghee and then add the puree. add sugar and cardamom powder. saute till you see the puree thickening and becoming glossy. if you add more ghee, then you can see the ghee releasing from the sides. then add the dry fruits and just cook for 1 or 2 minutes.
Thank you Dassana…..
welcome lokeshwari
I’ve tasted it once, and have always wondered how to make it. Never realised it was so simple.
Thank you.
welcome janani
Halwa looks so delicious Dassana