Badami Lauki Kofta

Name: Badami Lauki Kofta
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
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; Bottle gourd; 2 teaspoon salt; turmeric powder - 1 teaspoon; cumin powder - 1 teaspoon; coriander powder - 1 teaspoon; chili powder - 1 teaspoon; 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

Creamy and rich this Badami Lauki Kofta is bottle gourd dumplings that are friend and then simmered in a tomato based curry that is then enhanced with almond flour.

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.

What is Badami Lauki Kofta ?

Badami is almond, well badam is technically almond. Lauki is bottle gourd and kofta is dumpling.

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.

Variations of the Badami Lauki Kofta!

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

Grated Coconut
Coconut Milk
Onion and tomato-based gravy with garam masala at the end – Which is typically refered to as Lauki Kofta
Mix the spices with yogurt and add it to the gravy
Use the makhni masala for a robust flavor

Bottle Gourd

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

Bottle Gourd 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.

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.