What is Lauki Kofta?
This Lauki Kofta recipe makes soft dumplings using grated bottle gourd (lauki), and is served in a rich, creamy tomato-onion gravy. Also known as Dudhi Kofta or Lauki ka Kofta, this comforting curry is mildly spiced, aromatic, and pairs perfectly with roti, naan, or rice. Similar to Malai Kofta but lighter, it's a delicious way to turn the humble bottle gourd into something truly special.
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Why will you love this?
- If bottle gourd preparations that you make normally say lentil-based or stir-fries are starting to feel repetitive, Lauki Kofta is worth making, as this recipe transforms the bottle gourd into something rich, comforting, and irresistible.
- While the koftas do require a bit of effort to make, as you need to get the perfect, non-sticky consistency when shaping them, the effort is absolutely worth it.
- The result is a flavorful curry with soft, melt-in-your-mouth dumplings that even picky eaters will happily have!
- It pairs perfectly with rotis, naan, or rice, making it a wholesome and satisfying vegetarian meal you'll want to take second helpings.
- Great for special get-togethers with friends and family night dinners. Serve along with Amritsari Pindi Chole masala, Paneer Tikka Grilled, Crispy Bhatura or roti, and Ghee rice, and you have a grand vegetarian menu. For non-vegetarians, include chicken tikka masala and tandoori chicken in the menu.
Lauki kofta Recipe - How to make?
Making the dumplings or kofta
Start by making the dumplings by peeling and grating the bottle gourd. Squeeze the extra water out and save it for later use. You can also add a little salt to the grated bottle gourd, so it automatically drains out all the water content.
- Step 1: Peel and grate the bottle gourd and drain all excess water.
- Step 2: Add spices, gram flour, yogurt, and coriander leaves to it and shape into round balls.
Next, add the spices, gram flour, grated ginger, yogurt, a pinch of baking soda, and rice flour, and make round balls. The dough may get a little sticky, so increase the flour as necessary to get the right consistency and roll it into a ball.
Apply some oil to your palms as well before rolling, so you can make round and neat balls. You can choose to deep fry or use an appe-pan to shallow fry.
- Step 3: Use an appe-pan and cook the koftas until they are done.
- Step 4: Drain them onto a bowl lined with a paper towel.
Making the gravy for Lauki kofta
To make 'Lauki kofta' gravy, fry tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic, and cashews. Grind them to a fine paste.
Season the paste with spices, then add water and juice from the grated gourd as needed to achieve a smooth, flowing consistency. Gently add the dumplings, and coat them well in the gravy.
Finish with fresh cream and dried fenugreek leaves at the end, and turn off the heat. You can also garnish it with chopped coriander leaves for freshness.
- Step 5: Sautee onions, tomatoes, ginger, cashews, and garlic, and grind them to a fine paste. Cook the paste in oil and add spices.
- Step 6: Add koftas and simmer. Add cream and chopped coriander leaves if you like.
It's a great side dish with Naan, Roti, Kerala Ghee Rice, and bhatura made with bhatura bread recipe.
Useful Tips
- Add a little salt to the grated bottle gourd to help draw out excess water quickly.
- Reserve the drained water and use it later while preparing the gravy.
- Lightly oil your hands before shaping the koftas to prevent them from sticking.
- You can deep-fry, shallow-fry, or air-fry the koftas based on your preference..
Related Recipes
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Lauki Kofta Recipe
Ingredients
For Kofta
- 2 cups bottle gourd peeled and grated
- 1 tsp yogurt
- ¼ cup coriander leaves chopped
- 1 cup chickpea flour (besan)
- ¼ cup rice flour
- ¼ cup bread crumbs optional
- 1 tsp ginger grated
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 pinch baking soda
- 2 tsp coriander powder
- 2 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
For Gravy
- 1 big onion
- 2 medium tomatoes
- 2 tsp tomato paste optional
- ½ inch ginger
- 4-5 garlic
- 10 cashews
- 1 tsp chilli powder
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- ¼ tsp mango powder amchur powder (dried)
- ¼ tsp garam masala
- ¼ stick butter
- 2-3 tbsp whipping cream
- ½ tsp fenu greek leaves dried powdered
Instructions
To make Koftas
- Peel and grate the laukis into a bowl.
- Add a pinch of salt so it leaves out all the water , strain it well and use the drained water in the gravy later.
- To the grated bottle gourd , add all the ingredients mentioned in the "For Koftas" section.
- Mix well and add more chickpea flour or rice flour if the dough gets sticky .
- Grease a little oil on your palm and make smooth round balls with the dough.
- Shallow fry in the appe-pan with oil and cook well until they are well done.
- Drain on to a bowl lined with paper towel and keep aside.
To make gravy
- In a deep bottomed pan ,heat oil or butter
- Add chopped onions , tomatoes, ginger , garlic and cashews.
- Saute well till it is softened.
- Grind to a fine paste .
- Heat oil and add all the spices along with the garam masala, tomato onion paste and canned tomato paste if using.
- Adjust consistency to get a smooth gravy .You can use the water drained from the grated bottle gourd here if you like.
- Add the koftas into the gravy and cook on medium flame till they are coated well.
- Add cream and dried fenu greek leaves.
- Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
Video
Notes
- Add a little salt to the grated bottle gourd to help draw out excess water quickly.
- Reserve the drained water and use it later while preparing the gravy.
- Lightly oil your hands before shaping the koftas to prevent them from sticking.
- You can deep-fry, shallow-fry, or air-fry the koftas based on your preference.
Nutrition
I dont like Lauki too much but this recipe looks interesting. Would love to try it out.
Thanks for the comments, this is a great recipe with Lauki and pretty sure you will like it!
This sounds like a really tasty recipe. I haven't tried it before. I do love trying new foods x
Thank you so much, hope you try this recipe sometime and will love it as much as we do!
I love koftas, I grew up eating them, I liked the variation pretty close to this one and it was always with lentils too. It is very interesting how cousins can mix up and influence one other, having the same dish, even named the same name but with mother tongue twist in different corners of the world.
Wonderful to hear that and great to know that you make a variation close to this.I agree it's very interesting to see how various dishes around the world are influenced by one another.Thank you so much for the comments.
I have never heard of this recipe before but I like all of the ingredients! I have made kofta before and enjoyed them.
That's wonderful that you have enjoyed koftas before. The Lauki kofta is a different variety and am sure you will love this too. Thank you!
Oh wow this looks incrediblel! I've never tried Lauki kofta but love the sound of it, thanks for the recipe.
Thank you so much!
A great way to incorporate Lauki. Love the koftas, looks very appetizing!!
Thank you so much Neetha, yes a great way to use the Lauki!
I will attempt to to cook following your recipe, look amazing!
Thank you hope you like it!
Wow! Lauki looks amazing and delicious! We don't have gourd in the supermarkets here but I think I saw them at the Asian supermarket last year or the year before.
Thank you so much, this time of year you get it in plenty especially in Asian stores.
I haven't tried this yet but it does look like an interesting meal. Seems like something I'd like. Thanks for the recipe.
Thank you so much!
Yum! Looks and sounds like a delicious meal! Thanks for sharing that.
Thank you!
Looks so delicious
Thank you !
Most welcome
Can you just send me some? 🤣
Sure would be a pleasure to share 🙂 . Thank you!
Often children don't like lauki but your lauki kofta is an excellent recipe. Well shared thank you 🌹💓😊
Thank you Priti!
My pleasure 🤗💓