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Prep time
1 hour
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Cook time
2 hours
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Serves
8
Author Notes
This traditional Pumpkin Halwa, also known as "Pethay Ka Halwa" is a fall and winter classic in the Punjab region of Pakistan. Made with Seasonal pumpkin, milk, sugar, ghee {or cooking oil} and cardamom, the Halwa is garnished with nuts and rose petals for a beautiful finish. A family favorite, it was my paternal grandmother's favorite and I inherited that love and the recipe. Making the Halwa is a true act of love and labor, but oh so worth it! —Nosheen Babar
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Ingredients
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2 pounds
Pumpkin
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2 cups
milk
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1 cup
sugar
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1/2 cup
ghee
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1/2 cup
cooking oil
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1/2 teaspoon
cardamom
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2 tablespoons
pistachios
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2 tablespoons
almonds
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1 tablespoon
rose petals
Directions
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Preheat Oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit
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Take a baking sheet and line it with parchment
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Cut your pumpkin in half and take all the seeds out
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Pour some oil in a small bowl and use a basting brush to rub it on the halved pumpkin
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Bake the pumpkin in the oven (uncovered) for 45 minutes.
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Remove, cool enough to be able to scoop out the flesh in big pieces and discard the skin.
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Place the pumpkin pieces and milk in the pot and bring the mixture to a boil on high heat.
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Reduce to medium heat and cook till all the liquid has evaporated and use your potato masher to make a thick pumpkin puree.
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Add the sugar to the mixture and cook on low heat, stirring till its all melted and the mixture is glossy.
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Add in the ghee and let it melt into the sweetened pumpkin puree.
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Turn the flame to medium high and add in the oil and let the halwa mixture heat up.
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Start roasting the mixture, stirring constantly to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
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Once the mixture leaves the sides of the pan and turns amber in color it is ready.
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Garnish and serve warm.
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