Directions

•  Slice ash gourd to cubes removing the skin and seed flesh completely. 
• Poke the ash gourd pieces from all sides and keep aside. 
• Take 4 cups of water in a large bowl and dissolve the limestone.  
• Add this water to the chopped ash gourd and stir well. 
• Soak for 24 hours mixing in between every few hours. 
• Rinse and wash ash gourd pieces by rubbing each and every cube. 
• Soak the ash gourd in clean water again for 12 hours. 
• In a saucepan boil 4 cup of water, add sugar, saffron and cardamom. 
• Add washed ash gourd pieces and vanilla extract after the sugar dissolves and cook stirring occasionally.   
• Keep stirring until sugar syrup thickens.  Insert a knife to ensure the ash gourd is cooked.  Remove from the syrup and place petha on a wire mesh to cool for 24 hours.