Petha is a candy prepared using Ash Pumpkin / Gourd. It is popularly known as Agra Petha as it is extensively available in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
Time Required: 1 Hour + Soaking Time
Ingredients:
500 gms Booda Kumbalakayi / Ash Gourd / Petha
3 Cups Sugar
1tbsp Sunna / Quick Lime
Method:
Peel and cut Ash gourd into big cubes. Prick the cubes of Petha with a fork.
Picture above – Lime water
Dissolve Quick Lime in one and a half liters of water.
Picture above – Petha cubes soaked in Lime water
Boil the cubes in water for 10 minutes. Remove the cubes from water and spread them on a cloth.
Picture above – Petha cubes boiled in water and spread on a cloth
Add 4 Cups water to the Sugar and prepare a thick syrup. Add Petha pieces to the boiling syrup and continue to heat until you get a double thread consistency.
Picture above – Petha cubes in boiling sugar syrup
Remove from heat and leave it aside for 8 hours.
Drain off the excess syrup. After few hours store the candy in airtight containers.
