• 4 cups grated red pumpkin;
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar or to taste;
• 2 cups gram flour, sieved and roasted in a little ghee;
• 1/2 cup raisins;
• 2 tbsp. honey;
• 2 tbsp. grated orange or lemon rind;
• 8 almonds , sliced fine;
• 1 tsp. rum (optional);
• a pinch of dry ginger powder;
• a pinch of nutmeg powder;
• 3/4 to 1 cup ghee.

1. Tie the grated pumpkin in a muslin cloth and squeeze out the water. Mix the grated pumpkin, sugar, honey, orange or lemon rind and gram flour well in a heavy bottomed pan. Place the pan on a low heat and keep stirring until the mixture thickens. Add ghee, spices and raisins. Stir well. Continue cooking until the mixture is almost dry and leaves the sides of pan. Remove from heat, add rum and mix well. Pour the mixture on a butter paper and roll up. Cool and cut into 1.5 cm thick slices.

(contributed by Chandra Krishnan, Ootacamund)