Zucchini kofta is a delightful spin on the traditional lauki kofta dish from Indian cuisine. Known for its creamy tomato sauce and flavorful kofta balls, this recipe brings the magic of Indian flavors into a healthier, air-fried version. Zucchini, a common and abundant vegetable, is paired with lentil flour (red lentil flour), spices like garam masala, and fresh ingredients to create a delicious zucchini kofta curry that’s both nutritious and tasty.
This vegetarian dish makes for a wonderful alternative for those not liking paneer or looking for a lighter meal option. Let’s dive into this recipe and explore how you can prepare zucchini koftas using an air fryer for a healthier twist.You can deep fry them or air fryer zucchini koftas for a low calorie recipe. I love making them when I cant find my bottle melon.
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How to make zucchini kofta in air fryer? (Video recipe)
Ingredients
For this recipe, you’ll need some classic Indian ingredients along with some pantry staples. Here’s what you need:
For kofta
- Grated zucchini (courgettes)
- Red lentil flour, also known as masoor dal flour (you can use besan(gram flour also). However red lentil flour gives better results in air fryer recipes) If you want to make it at home, grind masoor dal in spice grinder.
- Spices (Coriander powder,red chilli powder,turmeric powder)
- baking soda
- salt as per taste
- Oil
For curry
Refer to the detailed instructions to make the curry in our authentic Indian curry paste recipe . Use around 1 cup of curry paste with 1 cup water , this cooks 6-7 koftas .
- Onion
- Tomato
- Spices & salt
- Oil
How to make zucchhini kofta in air fryer Step-step instructions?
- Take the zucchini and grate it into a bowl, then proceed to mix in the spices.
2. Add the red lentil flour to the mixture
3. start mixing the ingredients
4. Once the air fryer has been preheated, carefully place scoops of the kofta mixture (if desired, you can use a piece of parchment paper/ baking sheet for easy removal) into the air fryer basket.
5. To begin cooking, apply a light spray of oil to the cooking surface and preheat it to 180C|355F. Once the desired temperature is reached, cook the food for a duration of 8-9 minutes.
6. After spraying oil, continue cooking for an additional 7-8 minutes, then carefully remove the parchment paper.
7. Once the koftas are cooked, they can be added to any gravy of you choice. I prefer to them to a creamy tomato sauce made from tomato paste, ginger-garlic paste, and spices like bay leaf and kasoori methi.
The end result is a rich, flavorful dish that can be served with steamed rice or hot phulka rotis.
Related recipes
If you love veggie meatballs a.k.a kofte like there are many more recipes you can enjoy.
Apart from malai kofte, others are vegan recipes. Scroll below to see the zucchini kofte recipe.
Air fryer zucchini Kofta recipe
Equipment
- Air fryer
- saucepan/kadai for a traditional method frying
Ingredients
For gravy: refer to our post
- 3 cups zucchini grated
- ¾ cup red lentil flour use ¼ cup red lentil flour for every 1 cup of grated zucchini
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder / curry powder
- 1 teaspoon Red chilli powder or as per taste
- ½ tablespoon coriander powder
- Pinch baking powder
- Salt as per taste
- 2 tablespoon oil for spraying/brushing
Instructions
- Grate the zucchini and mix spices with it.
- Add the red lentil flour and mix it.
- In a preheated air fryer, place scoops of the mix(you can use a parchment paper)
- Spray oil and start cooking at 180C|355F ,cook for 8-9 minutes
- Spray oil and cook for further 7-8 minutes ,(total cook time of 16-17 minutes( remove the parchment paper
- Once the koftas are cooked, they can be added to any gravy of you choice.
Video
Notes
Substitutions & Variations
- Red lentil flour - You can replace it with besan(chickpea flour)
- Zucchini - You can use bottle gourd(lauki)
- Spices- adjust as per your taste
FAQs
1. Can I use any other vegetable instead of zucchini?
Vegetables like bottle gourd (lauki) or grated carrots can be used as substitutes for zucchini. To maintain the shape of the kofta balls, make sure to remove any excess liquid from the vegetables.
2. How do I make the kofta balls if I don’t have an air fryer?
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can still fry them in an appe pan or an abelskiver pan with a little oil on medium heat for similar results.
3. How can I make the sauce richer?
To enhance the texture of the sauce, consider adding coconut cream, fresh cream, or cashew paste. Match the richness by adjusting the spices, such as garam masala or chili powder.
4. What can I serve zucchini kofta with?
The perfect accompaniments for zucchini kofta are hot phulka rotis, steamed rice, or even naan. Adding a sprinkle of lemon before serving gives a fresh herb-like flavor.
Conclusion: Humble zucchini transforms into delicious air fryer recipes like breaded zucchini, zucchini boats and even kofte. Have a zucchinilious day ahead!
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