Calabash also is known as bottle guard is popularly called Lauki in India. Lauki is a popular summer food in India. Lauki is one of the healthiest vegetables that we can eat but it is usually disliked because of its bland taste and pale looks yet it makes its way onto the plates. Lauki has sheepishly found its way onto our dinner plates as our grandmothers and mothers have introduced different ways to feed us be it in sabzi, halwa or soups. Lauki holds a special place in Indian cuisine as many nutritionists promote it must have in food.
Lauki is used to make fried dumplings known as kofta and is mixed with tangy gravy, the gravy is spiced mildly. This Lauki kofta is yum and just melts into your mouth. This is an easy recipe that turns out to be very tasty and juicy. The tomato curry gives it a tanginess that makes your mouth drool. This recipe is a perfect blend of spice with health and I recommend everyone to try this recipe.
Lauki Kofta Recipe
Ingredients
Kofta
- 600 gms Lauki
- Salt
- ½ tsp Carom Seeds
- ½ tsp Dry Mango Powder
- 1 tsp Coriander Powder
- ½ tsp Red Chilli Powder
- ¼ tsp Turmeric Powder
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper Powder
- 1 pinch Asafetida
- Coriander Leaves fine chopped
- ¼ cup Gram Flour +2 tbsp
Gravy
- 3 Tomatoes
- 3 Onion medium size
- 8-10 Garlic Cloves
- ½ inch Ginger
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 2 Dry Red Chilli
- 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
- ½ tsp Cumin Seeds
- 1 tsp Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder
- 1 tbsp Coriander Powder
- ½ tsp Garam Masala Powder
- Salt according to taste
- Coriander Leaves fine chopped
- Water
Instructions
Kofta
- Peal and wash Lauki, grate from the medium side of the grater.
- Add in salt, mix well and leave it aside for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes squeeze the water out of grated Lauki also store this water for later use.
- Now add in carom seeds, dry mango powder, coriander powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, black pepper powder, asafetida, finely chopped coriander leaves and give it a good mix.
- Add in gram flour and mix it again. Make balls of it.
- Heat a cauldron (kadhai) and add in oil, once oil is hot enough drop kofta.
- Fry till golden brown and crisp.
Gravy
- In a grinder add in tomato, ginger, garlic, onions and grind to make a thin paste.
- Heat a cauldron heat some oil and add in bay leaf, dry red chilli and sauté for a little bit.
- Now add in cumin seeds, turmeric powder and Kashmiri red chilli and mix a bit.
- Add in tomato, onion paste, sauté and cook till it releases oil.
- Now add in coriander leaves, garam masala powder, salt , coriander leaves and mix it and cook for 1 minute.
- Now add in water from Lauki and some normal water and bring it to boiland add in kofta.
- Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Garnish with fine chopped coriander leaves.
Video
Notes
- Using salt helps Lauki to lose water which will help to make Lauki perfect.
- Add more gram flour if required.
- You will know that the dough is ready if you are able to make balls of it.
