Ingredients:
White pumpkin Or ash gourd 1/2 kg
Sugar 1.5 cups
Cardamom 4-5
Saffron threads a few (optional )
Choona or slaked lime 1 teaspoon
Method:
Take ripe white pumpkin where skin shows whitish powder on surface and on chopping the seeds are fully mature. Remove the seeds and skin of the pumpkin.
Cut it into 1 inch thick strips .
With a fork pierce the pumpkin all over.
Now dissolve the choona in about a liter of water and immerse the pumpkin strips completely in it for about 12 hours.
Remove the pumpkin wash it well and cut it into 1 inch cubes. Take about a liter of water and cook the pumpkin in it for about 15 mins till it looks a bit translucent. Remove the pieces from the water.
In a saucepan take the sugar and add 1/2 cup water and heat it so that the sugar dissolves completely. Now add the pumpkin pieces and continue cooking on big flame for about 15-20 mins stirring in between. You may add the saffron and cardamom powder to the syrup now. Any other coloring or flavoring agent may also be added. Continue cooking till the sugar syrup has thickened and the pumpkin pieces look shiny and glazed.
Now pick out the pieces individually and place them on a plate to dry. Petha is ready once cooled.
By Meera Sridhar
Simple home cooking 