Bottle- gourd/ lauki kofta curry recipe

Preparation time: 30 mins
Cook time : 30 mins


For making koftas :

Grated bottle gourd - 2 cups

Besan / gram flour - 3 tbsp

Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Oil for deep frying
Salt

For grinding :

Onion - 2
Tomato - 2 (medium- sized)
Cashews - 5-7
Green chilli - 1

Rest of the ingredients :

Oil
Cumin / jeera seeds - 1 tsp
Ginger garlic paste - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp
Salt

Method :

1. Rinse, peel and grate the bottle gourd. Squeeze the  grated bottle gourd and keep the juice. (we will use this juice later in the curry).
2. Add the besan flour, chilli powder and salt. Mix well and form small sized round- shaped balls. Do not add water while making this koftas.
3. Heat oil in a pan for deep frying. Gently place the kofta in the hot oil. Make sure to cook this kofta in low flame.
4. Fry this koftas till they turn golden brown then transfer it to a kitchen towel.

How to  make curry ??

1. Make a fine paste of onions, tomatoes, green chilli and cashews.
2. Heat oil in a pan add cumin seeds, ginger garlic paste. Saute for a minute.
3. Pour the masala paste. Be careful of paste sputters. if there is too much of sputtering, just cover the pan with lid not fully covered. Allow some steam to escape. Keep stirring it from time to time.
4. When the mixture has thickened add all the spice powders - turmeric, red chilli powder, coriander powder and garam masala.
5. Stir the masala's well. Let it cook for 4-5 minutes or till mixture starts to leave oil.
6. Now its the time to add bottle gourd juice, needed water and salt.Simmer and cook for 10 more minutes.
7. Add the fried lauki kofta into the curry and keep the flames for 2 minutes.
8. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

Bottle gourd kofta curry  goes well with roti, naan, steamed basmathi rice and jeera rice.

Tips:

• Cook the kofta in low flame. Wait till the inside part cooks well.(similar to how you cook for gulab jamun)
• Adding ginger for making fine taste results some bitterness in curry. You may prefer ginger garlic paste.
• Too much of onions makes the curry little sweeter. So add according to your preferences.
• Atlast add the fried koftas into the curry. Let them be in the curry for few more mins.

Serving size : 2- 3