Bottle Gourd Kheer/ சுரைக்காய் பாயசம்

Today is Gogulashtami, we used to do Pooja at home. I tried kheer with Bottle Gourd. In Tamil Nadu it’s called as suraikkai. This is simple and creamy Payasam.
Bottle gourd is very good for health. It has been regarded as one of the healthiest vegetables.

Bottle gourd cools your body, helps in weight loss, cures stomach problems and urinary infections. It keeps the heart healthy and relieves the stress. Cashew and coconut paste gives rich taste to the dish. Serve with cold or warm kheer.

Ingredients 

Grated Bottle Gourd - 1 Cup 

Brown Sugar/ Grated Jaggery - 3/4 Cup  

Ghee - 3 tsp 

Butter - 1 tsp 

Dry Grapes & Cashew Nuts - a handful 

Milk - 1 Cup 

Water - 1 Cup 

Salt a pinch 

To Grind

Grated Coconut - 1/2 Cup 

Soaked Rice - 1 tspe

Cashew Nuts - 7 

Method 

Melt ghee in a pan and add the cashew nuts & dry grapes and fry for few seconds. Then keep aside.

In the sam pan add grated bottle gourd pieces a and fry for about 3 to 4 minutes. 

Add a cup of water and close the lid, then cook until it becomes soft and mushy.

Then add milk and keep cooking for another few minutes. And then add sugar and mix well.

By mean time, add grated coconut , cashew , Soaked rice and cardamom. Grind it as fine paste.

Add this paste in to the kheer, and give a nice mix. Then switch off the flame and serve warm / cold kheer.