Lauki kofta recipe
Lauki kofta recipe is a popular Indian vegetarian dish made from bottle gourd and besan (gram flour) balls, simmered in a tomato-based gravy. It's a delicious and healthy alternative to meatballs and is perfect for vegetarians and meat lovers alike. Here is a step-by-step recipe to make lauki kofta.
Ingredients:
For koftas:
- 1 bottle gourd (lauki), peeled and grated
- 1 cup besan (gram flour)
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
- Salt to taste
- Oil for frying
For gravy:
- 3 medium-sized tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 1 large onion, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
- Salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons oil
- Coriander leaves for garnish
Instructions:
- Grate the bottle gourd and squeeze out the excess water using your hands. Place it in a mixing bowl.
- Add besan, red chili powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala, and salt to the grated bottle gourd. Mix well until everything is combined.
- Heat oil in a deep-frying pan on medium flame. Using your hands, shape the mixture into small balls or koftas.
- Once the oil is hot, gently add the koftas to the oil and fry until golden brown on all sides. Remove them from the oil and keep them aside on a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil.
- Now, let's prepare the gravy. Heat oil in a pan on medium flame. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.
- Add chopped onion and ginger-garlic paste to the pan and sauté until the onions turn translucent.
- Add chopped tomatoes to the pan and stir well. Cover the pan and let it cook for 5-7 minutes on low flame until the tomatoes become soft and mushy.
- Once the tomatoes are cooked, remove the pan from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes.
- Once the tomato mixture has cooled down, transfer it to a blender and blend until it forms a smooth paste.
- Pour the tomato paste back into the pan and add turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, and salt. Stir well and let it cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add water to the pan and let it simmer on low flame for 5-7 minutes until the gravy thickens.
- Once the gravy is ready, add the koftas to the pan and let them simmer in the gravy for 2-3 minutes.
- Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with steamed rice or naan.
Tips:
- To make the koftas even more flavorful, you can add some grated paneer or mashed potatoes to the mixture.
- You can also bake the koftas in the oven instead of frying them to make them healthier.
- If the gravy is too thick, you can add more water to adjust the consistency.
- You can adjust the spice level of the dish by adding more or less chili powder as per your preference.
- In conclusion, lauki kofta is a delicious and healthy vegetarian dish that can be enjoyed with family and friends. With the above recipe, you
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Main course
