For Making Kofta
2 cups grated lauki (bottle gourd or opo squash )
3.5 to 4 tablespoon besan (gram flour)
¼ teaspoon garam masala powder
¼ teaspoon red chili powder
1 green chili - finely chopped
salt as required
oil for deep or shallow frying the koftas
For Making Masala Paste
2 large tomatoes - roughly chopped
1 medium sized onion - roughly chopped
1 green chili - chopped
1 inch ginger - chopped
4 to 5 garlic - chopped
2 tablespoon broken cashews
Other Ingredients For Lauki Kofta
1 teaspoon cumin
¼ or ½ teaspoon red chili powder
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon coriander powder
¼ or ½ teaspoon garam masala powder or punjabi garam masala powder
1 cup water or as required
1.5 or 2 tablespoon oil - if using fresh oil
salt as required
sugar as required (optional)
Directions:
Rinse and peel the lauki (bottle gourd). Grate it.
Squeeze the grated lauki and collect the juice in a bowl or mug. Keep the juice aside.
Mix all the ingredients for making the koftas with the grated lauki except oil.
Make small round shaped balls or patties.
Heat oil in a kadai or frying pan. Fry the lauki kofta in the oil, till they are even golden browned from all sides.
Drain the fried kofta on tissues so that the extra oil is absorbed.
Making Masala Paste
Blend all the ingredients mentioned under "Masala paste" with little or no water to a smooth paste.
Don't add too much water as then the whole mixture splutters while frying.
Making the sauce:
Remove extra oil from the frying pan in which the koftas were fried. Keep about 1.5 or 2 tbsp. oil.
Heat the oil and first fry the cumin. Then add the masala paste.
Fry for 8-10 minutes and then add all the spice powders.
Stir and continue to fry the masala paste till it starts leaving oil from the sides.
Add the juice and about 1 cup water to the paste.
Stir and simmer for 10-12 minutes. Lastly, add the fried kofta.
Switch off the fire and let them be in the curry for a few minutes.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve lauki kofta hot with rotis, naan or jeera rice.
Bottle gourd is a great Ayurvedic remedy for constipation, it helps cleanse the digestive tract and ultimately eases bowel trouble. Bottle gourd helps to keep your body temperature lower and has an affinity towards the urinary system.
