Louki ka Halwa/ Payasam

Ingredients :
* 4 Cups grated Louki/ Milk gourd.
* 1 Cup Khoya
* 1 can condensed milk (about 250 gms)
* 1 Tsp sugar
* 5/6 cardamom pods.
* 3 Tbsp ghee

(For payasam - optional)
* 400 ml milk

Preparation:
1. Heat ghee in a heavy bottomed pan.
2. Once the ghee melts, add the grated louki and saute until the louki turns transparent.
3. Add khoya to the sauteed louki and mix well. The khoya tends to form small chunks which ought to be broken apart and blended into the louki khoya mix. Heat the mixture in medium flame for about 5 minutes.
4. Now slowly add the condensed milk while mixing it thoroughly. The louki-khoya-condensed milk will now form a semi-solid mix.
5. Powder the cardamom seeds with a tsp of sugar and add it to the mix and keep stirring until it thickens.

For Halwa :
6. Pour the solidified mix into a dish and cut into square cubes and serve chilled.

For Payasam:
6. Add some milk once the mix has thickened (and not before it, because the louki will not get the milk flavour if diluted too early).
7. Chill the payasam and serve.