Lauki Kofta (bottle gourd/opo squash)

Ingredients

Grated bottle gourd 2 cups

Chopped Onion 1 large

Chopped green chili to taste

Ginger garlic paste 1 1/2 tbsp

tomato puree  1/4 cup

Garam masala 1 tbsp or more as per taste

Coriander powder 2 tbsp

Salt to taste

Vegetable oil for frying & cooking 

Gram flour 1/2 cup ( enough to hold the grated lauki)

Cumin powder & seeds

Turmeric powder 1/2 tbsp

Preparation 

1. Rinse, peel and grate the lauki aka bottle gourd aka opo squash. Squeeze the grated lauki and  keep the juice, it will be used in the curry.
2. Add the besan/gram flour, spice powders, salt and mix well and form small sized round or oval balls.
3. Heat oil in a pan and gently place the kofta in the hot oil and fry until golden brown. You can shallow fry or deep fry. Place the fried koftas on a tissue paper to drain the extra oil.
4. Remove the extra oil from the same pan in which you fried the koftas and keep around 2 tbsp oil. Add cumin seeds to it and let it sputter.
5. Add chopped onions and chili and fry until golden brown.
6. Add ginger garlic paste and fry for another 1 min.
7. Now add the tomato puree and all spices. Stir and let the masala cook for 5-6 min until it starts to leave oil. Add a tbsp of water to avoid burning.
8. Add the bottle gourd juice and some water. Stir, simmer and cook for 10-12 minutes more. Don’t cover the pan with any lid.
9. Add the fried koftas and simmer for another 2-3 min and then turn of the gas/stove. Cover the lid and set aside for 5-6 min.
10. Kofta is ready to be served with zeera rice and flat breads. Garnish with cilantro leaves.