As I scan the Indian grocery store, I used often wonder what to do with this vegetable. Thanks to my friend Sulbha, I was able to come up with this dish. Its rich & yummy.
Things we need
For the lauki balls
Lauki / Soraikai - peeled & grated - 3 cups
Besan / Chickpea flour - 1 cup
Salt
Cashews
Red Chilli powder
Turmeric powder
Ginger minced
Dry Mango powder
Corriander leaves chopped.
Oil to fry
Extract the water from the grated lauki & mix all of the above ingredients & lastly the besan four. Add enough to make small balls of it. Fry them in oil like a vada till they are golden brown & keep it aside.
For the gravy
Onions - 1/2 well chopped
Tomato - 2 pureed with 2 green chillies
Little ginger (or) Ginger garlic paste
Poppy seeds - 1 spoon soaked in water
Cashew - 5/6
Whole garam masala - Cardamon 1, cloves 2, cumin 1/4 spoon, corriander seeds 1/4 spoon, black pepper 4 , a very small pinch of nutmeg, 1 pinch cinnamon powder.
Cumin seeds - 1/2 spoon
Red chilli powder
Garam masala powder - 1/4 spoon
Turmeric powder
Dried Kasturi Methi
Milk / cream
Oil
Salt
In a kadai, take a little oil. When its hot fry the whole garam masala & the chopped onions. Take them out & grind them well with the soaked poppy seeds & cashew.
Then in the kadai, take a little oil. When hot add cumin seeds, ginger, then the tomato puree. Allow them cook well till the raw smell is gone. Add the Onion paste ,red chilli powder, turmeric powder, the garam masala powder & salt. Allow it to boil well. Now add the Kofta balls. & then add a little milk/ cream & crushed kasturi methi.
Kofta Curry is done. Its goes well with Chapatti, roti or naan , Veg pulav.
Have a wonderful meal..
