Lauki Ke Kofte

This is a dish which is very popular with kids as it contains deep fried pakoras. The fact that these pakoras are made of Lauki and hence healthy is good for moms to know and make this.

Preparation Time: 30 min
Cooking Time: 15 min
Serves: 4-5, makes about 20 Kofte

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Ingredients: 1/2 Lauki / Bottlegourd or 2 cups grated lauki with water removed 3 tblsp Besan / Gram flour 1 large onion, ground to a paste 2 medium tomatoes, ground to a paste 1 tsp jeera / cumin seeds 1/2 tsp haldi / turmeric 1 tsp dhaniya / cilantro powder 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste salt to taste oil for deep frying

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Method:

1. Grate lauki. Take it in your hand in big chunks and press tightly to remove as much water as you can.
2. Add besan to this and mix well. Make balls out of this and deep fry them in low-medium heat. Be very gentle when frying. Turn then only when you see them slightly golden on the sides. Remove when completely golden-brown.

3. Heat 1 tblsp oil in a pan. Add jeera and let it splutter. Saute onions till transluscent.
4. Add ginger-garlic paste, turmeric and dhaniya and fry for 30-40 sec.
5. Add tomato puree and salt and let it cook till oil separates from the tomatoes.
6. Add 3 cups water to make a thin gravy. Add koftas and let it boil for 1 min. Do not stir it too much now or the koftas will break. This curry needs more water as the water gets absorbed in the koftas.
7. Serve with rotis.

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Tips Besan has to be just enough for binding and to ensure that the koftas don't disintegrate when frying. If the amount of water left out in your grated lauki is more, then you will need more besan. Ideally first fry only one kofta to see how it is. If is holds well then fry all or add more besan to it. If you add too much besan, koftas are going to be hard.

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