With Falgun ushering in Holi’s colors, Uttar Pradesh cultural department spotlights bottle gourd barfi—a sweet that marries mouthwatering taste with superior nutrition. Ideal for health-conscious revelers, it’s a fresh take on festive desserts.
This gem from Uttar Pradesh’s traditional kitchen turns lauki, a simple veggie, into an exquisite barfi. Promoted as light and nutrient-dense, it’s perfect for festivals, offering sweetness without the usual caloric overload.
Lauki’s health credentials are remarkable: 96% water, minimal calories, high fiber, vitamin A, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and potent antioxidants. Ayurvedic wisdom and contemporary research underline its efficacy.
It combats digestive issues like constipation, gas, heartburn, and poor digestion by soothing the stomach and bolstering gut health. Weight watchers love its satiating hydration and low-cal nature. Heart-friendly potassium manages hypertension and clears cholesterol. Detox properties yield luminous skin, while metabolic enhancers keep blood sugar steady with fewer carbs.
Recipe simplicity shines here. Wash, peel, remove seeds, grate lauki. Fry in 2 tbsp ghee for 10 minutes on medium flame. Mix in sugar, cook dry, add khoya and more ghee, thicken while stirring. Add cardamom for aroma, cool, and slice into pieces.
Make bottle gourd barfi your Holi hero—delicious, digestible, and downright beneficial.