Lauki Kofta / Lao-r Kofta / Bottlegourd Gravy

                                                                                    

Lauki koftas are a hit item at my in-laws place, ever since I introduced them this dish. Though my hubby makes a lot of fuss if I prepare any other dish out of bottle gourd, he simply relishes when I make Lao diye moong dal (lauki with moong dal) and lao kofta. I love many recipes which are made out of lauki like lauki ke paratha, lauki juice, lauki dal, lauki halwa are to name a few. Whenever I'm about to fry the yummy koftas, I have to keep a few koftas aside for my son as he loves to eat those fried kofta balls. So here is the recipe of lauki kofta gravy.....

Serves: 4, Preparation time: 15 + Cooking : 30 minutes

Ingredients:

For Lao koftas:

1/2 kg Lauki (bottlegourd)

1 Potato (boiled)

1tsp Ginger

1/2 tsp Garam masala

1 Red chilly powder

 Pinch of haldi (turmeric) powder

Coriander leaves chopped

3 Green chillies

Salt to taste

2 tbsp all purpose Flour

Oil for frying

For Gravy:

1 Onion 

2-3 Garlic pods

1/2 inch Ginger

2-3 Green chillies

2 Tomatoes (ground to paste)

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds

1 tsp Haldi (turmeric) powder

1 tsp Coriander powder

1 tsp Red chilly powder

1 tbsp Oil

2 tsp Ghee

Water

Salt to taste

Method:

For koftas: Peel off the outer skin of the bottlegourd and grate it. Squeeze out the water and keep it aside for making gravy. In a large bowl mix all the ingredients for kofta (except oil) and knead to a soft dough. Make small balls out of the mixture. Now heat oil in a deep pan, fry the balls in medium heat till golden brown. Place them on a paper towel to drain excess oil. Keep aside.

For gravy: Heat oil in a pan, add cumin seeds, let it splutter, add onions and fry for few minutes. Add ginger, garlic, green chillies and stir for few more seconds. Add tomato paste and fry till the oil comes out. Add all the spices, salt and fry for 1 minute. Add some water and let the gravy boil. Once it is boiled, add the fried koftas and let it cook on medium flame for 10 minutes. Garnish kofta gravy with ghee on top and with chopped coriander. Enjoy this hot lauki kofta curry with plain rice or chappatis/ parathas.

User Comments & Tips:

The above method that I've mentioned is for immediate serving. If you are not planning to serve kofta gravy immediately, I would suggest you keep the gravy and kofta in two separate bowls untill the serving time. As koftas are very soft and delicate, they soak all the gravy if kept for a longer time in the gravy. Just before serving, heat the gravy for few minutes in microwave and then drop the koftas and again heat it for 2-3 minutes.