Kaddu Ka Meetha is a sweet veggie preparation of Pumpkin, made generally on fasts during Navratri and in traditional Himachali Dham.
Himachali Dham is a traditional feast given during the marriages or some other functions in Himachal Pradesh state of India. Kaddu ka Meetha is made in traditional Himachali Dham in a variety of ways. In some places they make it, where pumpkin pieces are cooked in sugar syrup and it is served as is. And in other places it is made more like a dry veg curry, where sugar is cooked completely and is loaded with nuts.
At my home, my mom always make it like a dry sweet veg, which we enjoy having with puri or parathas. One peculiar taste, that I never forget about this pumpkin sweet or kaddu ka meetha, is the flavour of kali mirch (black pepper).
Kaddu or Pumpkin
Pumpkin is from the squash family. It’s almost all the parts are edible. It is highly nutritious vegetable. Pumpkin seeds are also high in nutrient value and are full of antioxidants too. Simply dry roast its seeds for a few seconds, add a little salt and sprinkle them on any dish you like or just eat them as is. They are a power house of energy and it would be a shame to throw them away.
Pumpkin is used in a variety of dishes. You can make pumpkin cakes, muffins, tarts, soups, pies, hummus, sweet and sour pumpkin veg and many more. Kaddu ka Meetha is also made in a various ways. So, this amazing veggie can be made into a sweet or savoury treat, within no time.
Important tips for Kaddu Ka Meetha
There isn’t much in this recipe, really. So only a few things to keep in mind for Kaddu Ka Meetha.
Kaddu – Kaddu or pumpkin should not be very ripe. Then it will be very difficult to peel and cut. I have used a normally available kaddu without any hard skin. You can cut the pumpkin in any size pieces. For this kaddu ka meetha, we will squash the veggie a little bit, so the size generally doesn’t matter.
Spices – You can use the spices as per your taste. I have used only fennel seeds and black pepper. You can add a few more that would go best with the sweet taste like cardamom powder etc. Do not omit the pepper flavour thinking it might taste very bitter because it lends to a deliciously peculiar taste that this kaddu ka meetha has.
Sugar – For sweetness, I have added gur or jaggery. You can use white sugar, brown sugar, khandsari, shakkar or any other form of sugar. It can be made sugar free also. Pumpkins are naturally little sweet. So if you want to avoid adding any sugar, it is okay but then the taste will definitely differ. I recommend adding some amount of sweetener to make a wonderful kaddu ka meetha.
Dry Fruits – I have added a few chopped dry fruits in this pumpkin sweet. You can add any nuts of your choice. Even dry coconut goes very well with this dish. Just roast them a little and chop into smaller pieces.
Ghee – I have used Ghee or clarified butter to make this kaddu ka meetha. I would not suggest any other type of fat to make it, as this is what goes the best with this kaddu ka meetha. However, olive oil or butter would also do. But do try to make it in ghee only. You can reduce the quantity of ghee, if you wish.
Some other interesting recipes from my YouTube Channel and Blog;
- Samak Ke Chawal Ka Dosa (Barnyard Millet Dosa)
- Kuttu Ki Puri (Buck wheat flour puri)
- Besan Ki Barfi
- Gulab Jamun
- Samosa (Crunchy and market style)
- 100 % Wholewheat flour Bread ( Brown Bread)
Recipe Video of Kaddu ka Meetha
I have made a video for better understanding of the prodecure of making this recipe. Do watch it and also Subscribe to my YouTube channel “flavourhome by sutiksha” . If you like my recipes, then do like them and share with your family and friends too.
Ingredients
- Ghee – 1 tbsp
- Fennel seeds – 1 tsp
- Pumpkin – 2 cups (peeled and cut into pieces)
- Black Pepper – 1/2 tsp (crushed)
- Jaggery (gur) – 1/4 cup
- Dry fruits – roasted and chopped (as per taste)
NOTE : You can increase or reduce the amount of jaggery as per your taste.
Method
1.Heat ghee in a pan and add fennel seeds. Roast them for a while and then add pumpkin (kaddu) pieces. Roast them for a few seconds and then cook them covered, until soft.
2. Once they are soft and almost done, mash them a little in the pan itself. Do watch video to see how I did that in the pan. Now add crushed black pepper and gur (jaggery). Mix and cook well without covering the pan.
3. When the jaggery syrup almost dries up, add in the roasted chopped dry fruits and mix. Dry up the jaggery syrup from kaddu ka meetha and then it is ready to be served. Serve with hot puri or parathas.
I would love to hear from you if you try this Kaddu Ka Meetha or Pumpkin sweet recipe. Do mention it in my comments section how you liked it or if you made it in any other way. Also if you make this and share on social networking sites, remember to add #flavourhomebysutiksha and tag me there, so that even I can appreciate your efforts.
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