Kaddu kofta

Bottle gourd kofta curry/kaddu kofta curry:

Lauki kofta or kaddu kofta is a very popular vegetarian dish of Hyderabad.This vegetarian delight is made with deep fried grated bottle gourd balls cooked in thick and rich gravy made with tomatoes ,melon seeds yogurt and other ingredients.

Kaddu kofta

Ingredients:

For koftas:

1 cup grated bottle gourd.
1 cup puffed Bengal gram.
1/2 teaspoon red chilly powder.
3/4 teaspoon turmeric powder.
3/4 teaspoon cumin seeds.
3/4 teaspoon salt.
1/2 inch chopped ginger.
1/2 teaspoon chopped almonds.
1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves.

For gravy:

1 medium onion.
3 medium tomatoes.
3 to 4 green chilies.
1 tablespoon brown onions.
3/4 tea spoon chilly powder.
1/2 teaspoon salt.
3/4 teaspoon turmeric powder.
1/2 teaspoon ginger garlic paste.
1 bay leaf.
3/4 teaspoon cumin seeds.
3/4 teaspoon caraway(shajeera)
2 dry red chillies.

 Dry ingredients to make paste:

3 to 4 cloves.
3 green cardamoms
1 black cardamom.
1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds.
5 to 10 peppercorns.
3/4 teaspoon caraway(shajeera)
1 cicinnamontick.
1 teaspoon melon seeds
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
1 teaspoon roasted ground nuts.
Oil for cooking.

To make koftas:

Make powder of puffed bengal gram
Take grated bottle gourd,add salt,chilly powder,turmeric powder,cumin,chopped ginger,chopped mint mixwell.
Add powdered  puffed bengal gram,chopped almonds.
Mix it and make stiff dough,it should not be too moist.
Make the dough in small lemon size balls .
Heat oil on medium flame,drop few balls at a time,lower the  flame,deep fry on low flame to golden brown colour.
Place them on absorbing paper.
Fry all the koftas and keep them ready.

Preparing gravy:

Dry roast all the dry ingredients paste adding yogurt.

Make a rough paste or grate onions.
Make tomato puree,blending tomatoes.
Heat a pan,add oil.
Add cumin,bay leaf,caraway,onion paste,ginger garlic paste,salt ,turmeric,chilly powder.
Cook till the onion paste changes colour to light brown.
Add tomatoes puree,mix well,allow it to cook for 5 minutes.
Add the paste made with yogurt,slit green chillies,cook on low flame for 15 to 20 minutes.
Add deep fried koftas ,let it cook for 2 more minutes.
Dress with chopped fresh coriander leaves.

Serve hot with rice or any bread.

Hyderabadi Vegetarian