Lauki Kofta Curry recipe
Bottle gourd, or lauki, may not be everyone’s favourite vegetable, but this Lauki Kofta Curry will change your mind! It’s a perfect way to turn simple lauki into a flavourful and rich dish that everyone love it!! In this recipe, grated lauki is mixed with spices and gram flour to make crispy, golden koftas. These koftas are then added to a rich, creamy tomato and cashew-based gravy. The result is a dish that’s bursting with flavors and goes perfectly with rice or chapati.
Whether you’re trying to make something special for a family meal or just looking to make lauki exciting, this Lauki Kofta Curry is a must-try. Give it a go, and watch everyone at the table ask for seconds!
Ingredients
For the Koftas:
- Bottle gourd (lauki) – 1 small, grated
- Green chilies – 2, finely chopped
- Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
- Red chili powder – ½ tsp
- Coriander powder – ½ tsp
- Chaat masala – ¼ tsp
- Cumin powder – ½ tsp
- Black pepper powder – ¼ tsp
- Sesame seeds – ½ tsp
- Salt – as per taste
- Fresh coriander leaves – 2 tbsp, chopped
- Rice flour – 3 tbsp
- Gram flour (besan) – 4 tbsp
- Oil – for frying
For the Gravy:
- Mustard oil – 2 tbsp
- Bay leaf – 1
- Cinnamon stick – 1 small piece
- Black cardamom – 1
- Ginger-garlic-green chili paste – 1 tbsp
- Tomatoes – 2, chopped
- Fried onions – 2
- Cashew nuts – 6
- Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
- Red chili powder – ½ tsp
- Coriander powder – ½ tsp
- Garam masala – ¾ tsp
- Curd (yogurt) – ½ cup, whisked
- Green chili – 1, slit
- Salt – as per taste
- Fresh coriander leaves – for garnish
Method
Step 1 – Preparing the Koftas:
- Grate the bottle gourd (lauki) and add a little salt. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then squeeze out the excess water.
- In the grated lauki, add chopped green chilies, turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, black pepper powder, chaat masala, sesame seeds, fresh coriander leaves, rice flour, and gram flour. Mix everything well.
- Shape the mixture into small balls.
- Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Fry the koftas until golden brown and crispy. Set them aside.
Step 2 – Preparing the Gravy:
- In a blender, grind together fried onions, chopped tomatoes, and cashew nuts to make a smooth paste.
- Heat mustard oil in a pan. Add the bay leaf, cinnamon stick, and black cardamom. Sauté for a minute.
- Add the ginger-garlic-green chili paste and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the onion-tomato-cashew paste and cook until the oil starts to separate.
- Mix in the turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, and garam masala. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Reduce the heat and slowly add whisked curd, stirring continuously to prevent curdling. Cook for about 5 minutes.
- Add water as needed to adjust the gravy consistency and bring it to a boil.
- Gently add the fried koftas into the gravy and simmer for 5-7 minutes to let the flavors blend.
- Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot with rice or roti.
Enjoy this delicious Lauki Kofta Curry, a perfect meal for any occasion!
