Lauki (Bottlegourd) Koftas – Healthy Vegetarian
Author:
EasyRecipes .
Recipe type: Curries
Cuisine: Indian
Serves: 6
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Bottlegourd is a very unique vegetable and is liked for its very simplistic and mild flavor. It is also known by a host of other names – Lauki & Doodhi, being some of the few. Here we have dressed it up so you can serve it for a party and make it just for the family. So very healthy and you won’t believe how easy it is to make.
Ingredients
- For the koftas:
- Lauki/Bottlegourd/Doodhi – 4 cups (peeled & shredded)
- Chickpea Flour/Besan – ¾ cup
- Onion – ¼, med.
- Roasted Peanuts – ¼ cup
- Cilantro/Coriander Leaves – 10 sprigs (finely chopped)
- Coriander Powder – 1 tsp
- Cumin Powder – ½ tsp
- Dry Mango Powder /Amchur – ½ tsp
- Garam Masala – ½ tsp
- Red Chili Powder – to taste
- Salt – to taste
- For the gravy:
- Oil – 2 tbsp
- Onions – 2, med. (minced)
- Salt – to taste
- Garlic – 4 cloves (minced)
- Ginger – 1 tsp (minced)
- Green Chilies – to taste (finely chopped)
- Tomatoes – 3 large (pureed)
- Coriander Powder – 1 tsp
- Cumin Powder – ½ tsp
- Garam Masala – ¼ tsp
- Yogurt/Curd – ½ cup
- Water – 3.5 cups
- Cilantro/Coriander Leaves – for garnish
Instructions
- To make the gravy, in a wok, heat the Oil on medium heat.
- Add Onions and a little bit of Salt to speed up the cooking.
- Once the moisture has evaporated from the Onions, add in the Ginger, Garlic and the Green Chillies.
- Allow the Onions to get a nice golden brown color and then add in the Tomatoes.
- Cook till the oil seperates from the mixture.
- Add in Turmeric, Cumin, Coriander, Garam Masala.
- Give it a good mix and add in the well-beaten yogurt.
- Mix and add in the water to deisred consistency and check and add in Salt to taste.
- Cover and allow the gravy to come to a boil.
- Meanwhile, for the koftas, squeeze out excess water out of the shredded Lauki/Doodhi.
- Open it up and add in the Chickpea flour as needed (enough to form balls for the koftas).
- Also add in Peanuts, Onions, Cilantro, Red Chili Powder, Dry Mango Powder, Cumin & Coriander Powders & Garam Masala.
- Going back to the gravy, make sure it is boiling really well.
- Last thing to add to the koftas is Salt, add it and mix well quickly.
- Form balls/koftas and drop them in the boiling gravy. Pour some gravy over them if not submerged.
- Increase heat so the boil does not reduce once the koftas are in.
- Cover and cook for 5 minutes.
- Turn the koftas over once inbetween if they are not fully submerged in the gravy.
- Take them off the flame and garnish with cilantro.
- Serve hot with Chapatis or Parathas.
Notes
1. Make sure the gravy is boiling really well or else the kofta will fall apart and not hold shape.
2. For a change, add in some anardana (pomegranate seeds) or a little bit of grated paneer…gives a unique flavor.
3. The koftas can be fried and frozen.