• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Playful Cooking
  • About
    • Know Me
    • Contact
    • My Cookbook
    • Mention
  • Recipes
  • Tutorials
    • How To Style Curries
    • Play with Light
    • ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed
    • Live Zoom on Food Styling
  • Hire Me
  • Portfolio
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Know Me
  • My Cookbook
  • Portfolio
  • Hire Me
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Bengali Cuisine

    Lau Er Khosha Bhaja

    March 10, 2021 by Kankana Saxena

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Lau Er Khosha Bhaja literary translates to Bottle Gourd Peel Stir Fry. It is a humble side dish, typically paired with steamed white rice and lentil stew. It might sound interesting for some, probably even bizarre for others, but for most Bengali’s, this is an everyday comfort food.

    What is Lau Er Khosha Bhaja ?

    Lau refers to bottle gourd, khosha refers to the peel and bhaja refers to stur fry in this case.

    For the past several years since I left home, I have used bottle guard so many times in several different dishes. But I never used those peels. In the process of learning to cook, I forgot some of these simple dishes that I grew up eating.

    LINK TO THE FULL VIDEO OF Lau Er Khosha Bhaja IN MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

    Let's not forget that Peels are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, making them one of the most nutritious parts of a plant. 

    Bottle Gourd is a very commonly used vegetable in India but I highly doubt anybody knows that the peel is perfectly edible and nutritional.

    Next time you make kofta with bottle gourd, save those peels and make this simple Lauer Khosha Bhaja as a side dish.

    Use the bottle gourd peel to make lau khosha bhaja

    Bottle Gourd Peel Stir Fry - Bengali Recipe (plant based healtht side dish)

    Ingrdients for Lauer Khosha Bhaja 

    The dish doesn’t call for heavy spices. Just some nigella seeds for that pungent kick along with some dry red chili and a couple of bay leaves.

    The sun-dried lentil dumplings (daler bodi as we call in Bengali) are optional and my Mom mostly omits it but I like the texture it adds along with the earthy lentil aroma.

    I do add a lot of these dumplings also because Arvind just loves them.

    Simulatenously, you can omit these dumplings and just do a stir fry with thinly sliced onions.

    Lau Khosha Bhaja

    FEW KEY POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND

    This bottle gourd peel stir fry tastes good with bottle gourds those are tender. Sometimes depending on the size of the bottle gourd you buy, the peel might be more tough in texture.

    In such case, you will have to boil the peel for longer before you stir fry it.

    Occasionally, I find really tiny tender bottle gourd, and for those, I don't even feel the need to boil the peel seperately.

    So, you need to make a call based on how tough the peels are.

    HERE ARE FEW RECIPES YOU CAN TRY WITH BOTTLE GOURD

    Lau Chingri

    Badami Lauki Kofta

    Lau Khosha Bhaja (Bottle Gourd Peel Stir Fry)

    Kankana Saxena
    Lau Er Khosha Bhaja literary translates to Bottle Gourd Peel Stir Fry. It is a humble side dish, typically paired with steamed white rice and lentil stew. It might sound interesting for some, probably even bizarre for others, but for most Bengali’s, this is an everyday comfort food.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 35 minutes mins

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 cups of bottle gourd peels
    • 10-12 tiny dried lentil dumplings
    • 1 dry red chili
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 1 teaspoon nigella seeds
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon sugar
    • 1 tablespoon oil

    Instructions
     

    • Using a sharp knife, slice the peels very thinly, almost like matchsticks.
    • Pour enough water in a medium saucepan to boil the sliced peels. Place the pan in medium high heat and when the water is hot enough, sprinkle half of the salt and drop the sliced peels. Boil for 5 minutes and then drain it on a colander.
    • Place another pan in medium heat and pour the oil. When the oil is hot enough, drop the dried lentil dumplings and fry them until they turn golden brown. Take it off in a bowl and keep it aside to be used later.
    • In the same pan, add the bay leaves, dry red chili and nigella seeds. Allow it to sizzle for a few seconds and then, drop the boiled peels. Sprinkle rest of the salt, turmeric and give it a stir. Cover the pan and allow it to simmer for 5 minutes. Then, take off the lid and stir it once. Cover the pan once again and cook for 3 more minutes.
    • Take off the lid and drop the fried lentil dumplings. Pour ¼ cup of water into the pan. Cover and let it cook for 5 minutes. Then, sprinkle the sugar and give it a stir. Check for salt at this point and add any, if required. If you want to make it spicy, add some green chili or chili powder. Cook for another 2 minutes and its ready to serve.

    Notes

    FEW KEY POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND

    This bottle gourd peel stir fry tastes good with bottle gourds those are tender. Sometimes depending on the size of the bottle gourd you buy, the peel might be more tough in texture.
    In such case, you will have to boil the peel for longer before you stir fry it.
    Occasionally, I find really tiny tender bottle gourd, and for those, I don't even feel the need to boil the peel seperately.
    So, you need to make a call based on how tough the peels are.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1Serves 2
    Keyword bengali recipe, plant based meal, vegetarian side dish
    Bottle Gourd Peel Stir Fry - Bengali Recipe (plant based healtht side dish)

    More Bengali Cuisine

    • Kacha Aamer Tok
      Kacha Aamer Tok
    • Tetor Dal
      Tetor Daal (Bitter Gourd Yellow Mung Stew)
    • Bhapa Ilish
      Bhapa Ilish
    • Cheena Badam Bhendi - Okra with peanuts
      Cheena Badam Bhendi

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ritu Ahuja

      July 04, 2017 at 7:39 am

      You have a beautiful blog and lovely pictures. I have not prepared bottle gourd stir fry before. It looks delicious. I will give it a try soon. 🙂

    2. Easyfoodsmith

      July 01, 2017 at 3:00 am

      The instant I read the heading bottle gourd peel stir fry, my first reaction was 'how interesting'! I love recipes where best use is made of each and every ingredient of a vegetable or fruit. Would love to give this one a try.

    3. Shobee

      June 30, 2017 at 10:14 am

      How this be a comfort food whenn it looks so healthy... I am in!

    4. Anindya Sundar Basu

      June 30, 2017 at 8:22 am

      you just made a simple home recipe so romantic. Great pictures as usual but this inspires us to tap those simple home recipes whom ewe thought who will read. Thansk Kankana

    5. Meg | Meg is Well

      June 29, 2017 at 10:27 am

      I've never used a bottle gourd before but it's pretty awesome that you can make something out of the skin! And that green color is so beautiful too!

    6. Kelsie

      June 29, 2017 at 6:53 am

      This looks so comforting and delicious! I've never used bottle gourd before but I really want to try it! I love that color 🙂

      • Kankana Saxena

        June 29, 2017 at 10:24 am

        Thanks Kelsie! It's a very common vegetable in India. You should give it a try 🙂

    7. angiesrecipes

      June 29, 2017 at 1:53 am

      Delicious with all the great spices! Did you make those lentil sausages too?

      • Kankana Saxena

        June 29, 2017 at 10:23 am

        Hey Angie! Thanks 🙂 Those lentil dumplings can be made at home but I usually just buy it from the Indian Stores. These are typically sun-dried mashed lentils.

    8. Chitrangada

      June 28, 2017 at 7:49 pm

      My all time favorite, I add white poppy seed when the dish is almost done, brings a nice texture. I haven't tried adding bori in my lau er khosha bhaja, will try next time. And nothing new to say about your photography but hey... great knife skill 😊

      • Kankana Saxena

        June 29, 2017 at 10:24 am

        Thanks 🙂 I have to try with poppy seeds next time!

    Primary Sidebar

    About

    Hey there! I am Kankana and this is my culinary space where I unfold memories, share stories and try new flavours. Easy effortless cooking with fresh ingredients is my mantra and I like to carry that in my everyday meal.

    Learn more about me →

    Seasonal

    • Congee With Miso Sauce
    • Apple Almond Cake | Playful Cooking #apple #cake #foodphotography #applecake #playfulcooking
      One Bowl Apple Almond Cake
    • Creamy Garlic Mushroom Soup
    • How To Make Makhani Sauce

    Cookbook

    cookbook front cover
    Taste of Eastern India has an array of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, street foods, snacks, drinks, comfort hearty food, desserts and some long-lost dishes.
    Learn More and Order

    Subscribe

    Kitchen tips and tricks
    Receive exclusive articles and eBooks on Kitchen Tips and Tricks, Photography Tutorial, Meal Prep Ideas and Simple Recipes for Busy Lifestyle. Plus Weekly Fresh Seasonal Recipes.


    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Portfolio

    Copyright © 2011-2023 Playful Cooking. All content on this blog is copyrighted. It may not be republished in part or whole without permission and proper credit. Please contact me to seek republishing or syndication rights.