Pick ash gourd that's firm and fully mature. Peel skin, discard pulp and seeds. Cut into small vertical pieces .. so that it's easy to grate .

Grate ash gourd using a grater. Use bigger hole side to grate and apply pressure while grating.

Squeeze out most of the water from the grated ash gourd .. transfer to thick kadai. Do this process for 1-2 times to remove as much water.

This Ash gourd juice is very healthy and good for health. You can drink it as or flavour it up and consume or add it while making some curry or while making chapathi dough . So don't throw .

Heat ghee and fry cashews and raisins. Keep aside.

To make Kashi Halwa, Firstly take a thick bottom kadai and add 1-2 tsp Ghee. Saute Ash gourd. Saute Ash gourd till it's translucent or almost all water has evaporated from gourd.

Keep flame on medium flame and keep sauteing ash gourd in between. You can see that after some time... gourd starts leaving water . Saute in between till almost all water has evaporated. Don't lid the pan while cooking . It may take around 15 mins. If you have used good firm Ash gourd .. it will leave less water. Tender Ash gourd, becomes full watery and you might have to wait .. till it's done .

When water has almost evaporated .. add sugar. Mix. For 4 cup Ashgourd, I added 1 cup Sugar .. you can alter it as per your reference.

You can see once we have added sugar, halwa will again start leaving water and become watery. Keep flame on medium high, stir in between and continue to cook till it reduces water.

Add ghee in intervals .. Add Kesar / saffron soaked in hot milk. Mix While making I realised my stock of Kesar was over and thus added 2-3 drops of edible colour. Saffron definitely will give better colour. So try to use saffron only.

Add another 1-2 tsp Ghee and continue sauteing .

Add pinch of salt and few crystals of Citric acid crystals ( nimbu uppu / nimbu ka Phool). Can add 2-3 drops of lime too.

When Halwa has started thickening, add just 1-2 tsp crumbled Khova or cream or 1-2 tsp chiroti rava. This will give good texture.

Lastly, add fried nuts and elaichi powder .. mix .

When Ghee starts oozing out and halwa comes out as a mass .. it's done . Switch off ,

You can see how glossy, translucent and jelly-like Ash gourd halwa has turned. Once Ash gourd halwa cools , it becomes little thicker . Except for that orange colour.. everything is perfect.

Enjoy Ash gourd halwa / kashi halwa hot / warm / as such .