Badami Lauki Kofta (Bottle Gourd Dumpling in Almond Curry)

The term Kofta often refers to meat dumplings that are shaped like mini logs. In Indian cooking, Kofta is not restricted to just meat but also extends to roots, vegetables and even cheese. There are a wide variety of vegetarian Kofta dishes that are typically served in form of a curry. This a very popular vegetable dumpling curry prepared with bottle gourd. I like to prepare the gravy with a combination of almond and poppy seeds and hence the name, Badami Lauki Kofta (Bottle Gourd Dumplings in Almond Curry). It enhances the flavor and makes the gravy very creamy without adding any cream.

I grew up eating bottle gourd very often and especially during summer, as this vegetable helps to keep your tummy cool. Ma would prepare it with lentils, with shrimps and even with fish. Lauki Kofta is something that I learnt to cook and enjoy only after I met Arvind. He is not a picky eater but when it comes to bottle gourd, he prefers it only this way.

Lauki (Bottle Gourd) is one of the healthiest vegetables and because 90% of it is water and mineral, it keeps your body hydrated. It is also a great vegetable in terms of absorbing flavor. While on its own, it can be a little boring but mix it with spices, herbs and seafood, it turns into a delicious meal.

Bottle Gourd Fritters

The fritters can be served as a snack or dunked into a spiced gravy for a curry.

If you want to serve the fritters as a snack, make sure you add rice flour with a little bit of corn flour instead of the chickpea flour as that will make it crunchier.

When I prepare the fritters for the curry, I make the mixture very loose and as a result, the fritters don’t form a neat shape. However, the advantage of the loose texture is that it helps to absorb the gravy better and quicker.

Variations of the Curry!

I enjoy the creaminess that almond and poppy seeds bring together and so, I added these two to the dish. Here are a few other variations for the curry:

• Grated Coconut
• Coconut Milk
• Onion and tomato-based gravy with garam masala at the end
• Mix the spices with yogurt and add it to the gravy
• Use the makhni masala for a robust flavor

One veggie and so many different ways to prepare it! There is a little bit of prep work involved but once that is done, the curry comes out very quickly. It’s a tasty healthy meal that can be paired with either rice or roti. As for those peels, do not discard those. You could use it to make a delicious stir-fry dish and here is the link.

Badami Lauki Kofta (Bottle Gourd Dumpling in Almond Curry)

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

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Ingredients

• 1 medium red onion, 5.65 oz/ 161 g
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 inch fresh ginger
• 2 tablespoons ground almond
• 1 tablespoon ground white poppy seeds
• 1 medium bottle gourd
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/3 cup chickpea flour
• oil for deep frying the fritters
• 1 tablespoon oil for the curry
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cinnamon barks
• ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
• 3 green cardamoms
• 1 medium tomato, 5.65 oz/161 g, finely chopped
• 2 cups water
• fresh cilantro leaves for garnish

Instructions

1. Finely chop the onion, garlic and ginger. Keep it aside to be used later.
2. In a bowl, mix the ground almond and ground white poppy seeds. Keep it aside to be used later.
3. Slice off the stem portion and discard it. Then, divide the bottle gourd into 3 or 4 portions so it’s easy to peel and grate (watch the video to understand it better).
4. Using a sharp knife or a potato peeler, peel the skin. Save the peel to prepare the stir-fry dish. Grate the bottle gourd. If the seeds don’t feel tender, discard the portion using a sharp paring knife.
5. Place a heavy bottom deep pan on medium heat for frying the fritters. Place enough oil to reach a depth of about 1½ inch from the bottom of the pan. Let the oil heat up to about 300F.
6. Place the grated bottle gourd in a mixing bowl and add ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon turmeric, ½ teaspoon cumin powder, ½ teaspoon coriander powder, ½ teaspoon chili powder and the chickpea flour. Give it a mix to incorporate everything together. Make about 15 to 16 dumplings out of the mixture. Drop the dumplings in the hot oil. Do not over crowd the pan. Toss and turn around the dumplings until they turn golden brown in color. It should take about 5 minutes.
7. Keep the dumplings aside on a plate layered with kitchen towel.
8. Place a separate heavy bottom pan on medium heat and pour 1 tablespoon of oil. Once the oil heats up, drop the bay leaves, cinnamon barks, cumin seeds and the green cardamoms. Let it sizzle for a few seconds then, drop the chopped onion, ginger and garlic together. Sauté for 1 minute. Add ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon cumin powder, ½ teaspoon coriander powder and ½ teaspoon chili powder. Stir and cook for 3 minutes
9. Drop the tomato, stir and cook for 5 minutes. Scatter the mix of ground poppy seeds and almond, stir and cook for 2 minutes.
10. Pour the water, bring the heat to high and let it come to a boil. Then, simmer at medium heat for 5 minutes. Drop the fried fritters and toss it around gently to coat it with the gravy. Cook for 2 minutes. Switch off the heat and leave it aside for 5 minutes. The fritters will continue absorbing more gravy.
11. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and serve warm.