Kasi halwa/ Poosinikai halwa is a delicious and melt in mouth shiny looking sweet/ dessert prepared with winter melon / ash gourd/ white pumpkin. This traditional sweet does not demand too many ingredients but still tastes outstanding. The cooking time is more for the halwa preparation when done in stove top method so I opted to cook in INSTANT POT which really saved my time. Few months back I made this sweet and gave it to one of my friend and she loved it very much so thought to make it again and share it in the blog. This poosanikai halwa involves no techniques like other halwa recipe so even beginners can give this recipe a shot and it will surely turn out to be perfect. So let’s get to the making!
- 1. Grated ash gourd/ White pumpkin – 2 cups
- 2. Sugar – ½ cup
- 3. Saffron strands – 8
- 4. Cardamom powder – ¼ tsp
- 5. Cashews – 6 to 8 nos
- 6. Ghee – 3 tbsp
- * 1 cup = 235 ml
- Remove the green part/ skin of the ash gourd. Remove the seeds and grate the ash gourd. Keep it aside.
- Turn on instant pot on SAUTE MODE high. Add 1 tbsp ghee and fry cashews until golden brown. Shen done remove the fried cashews and keep it aside.
- Now in the same ghee add grated ash gourd. Saute for few seconds then put off the SAUTE MODE. Put the lid and keep the valve to SEALING POSITION. Now press MANUAL/ PRESSURE COOK mode high. Cook for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes do either natural release for 15 minutes or quick release by putting the valve to venting position which releases steam immediately. Make sure to keep your face far from it and side ways as a huge amount of pressure will be released.
- Now after the pressure is released open the lid and you will see perfectly cooked ash gourd.
- Turn on instant pot on SAUTE MODE high. To the cooked ash gourd add sugar and saffron strands and cardamom powder. Mix well and cook for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes or cooking you will notice the halwa changing its color and getting little dry and leaving the sides. Now add 2 tbsp ghee and fried cashews. Mix well and put off the SAUTE MODE. Serve the halwa!
How to make Instant pot kasi halwa with step by step images
- Remove the green part/ skin of the ash gourd. Remove the seeds and grate the ash gourd. Keep it aside.
- Turn on instant pot on SAUTE MODE high. Add 1 tbsp ghee and fry cashews until golden brown. Shen done remove the fried cashews and keep it aside. Keep the grated ash gourd ready.
- Now in the same ghee add grated ash gourd. Saute for few seconds then put off the SAUTE MODE. Put the lid and keep the valve to SEALING POSITION. Now press MANUAL/ PRESSURE COOK mode high. Cook for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes do either natural release for 15 minutes or quick release by putting the valve to venting position which releases steam immediately. Make sure to keep your face far from it and side ways as a huge amount of pressure will be released. Now after the pressure is released open the lid and you will see perfectly cooked ash gourd.
- Turn on instant pot on SAUTE MODE high. To the cooked ash gourd add sugar and saffron strands and cardamom powder. Mix well and cook for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes of cooking you will notice the halwa changing its color and getting little dry and leaving the sides. Now add 2 tbsp ghee and fried cashews. Mix well and put off the SAUTE MODE. Serve the halwa!