• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
SecondRecipe
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Web Stories
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Web Stories
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Web Stories
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Courses » Curries and Lentils

    Lauki ke Kofte fry/bake/air fry

    Dec 3, 2021 · Leave a Comment

    50 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Lauki ke Kofte or ghiya kofte are Indian style vegan meatballs curry. Although people feel dudhi or ghiya is a boring vegetable. Everyone loves its kofte. Serve fried vegetarian meatballs or bottle gourd kofta in spicy gravy with flatbread or rice instead of paneer for a change. Surely wins hearts and tummies. A great gram flour or besan based curry for a party. Hence, it is also vegan and gluten-free. This way you can make one curry inclusive for all types of foodies. This dudhi kofta recipe can also be baked in oven or made in an air fryer if you are health conscious. Yes, they still taste just as great. You may choose to have deep fried koftas once a while on a cheat day.

    Below is the recipe of ghiya kofta 3 ways for your reference. The recipe for lauki kofta curry remains the same but koftas do have additional corn flour (makai atta) and rice flour added to it when making the low oil versions. This ensures you get evenly cooked kofte even with low oil.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to make ghia kofte? (Traditional method)
    • How to make lauki kofta in air fryer?
    • how to make dudhi kofta? ( in oven)
    • how to make kofta curry?
    • Related links
    • Lauki Kofta recipe
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Top tips
    • FAQs
    lauki kofta recipe

    Ingredients

    For traditional fried kofte

    • Bottle gourd
    • Chickpea flour
    • Cumin seeds
    • Coriander seeds
    • Red chilli powder
    • Ginger-chillI
    • Coriander leaves finely chopped
    • Salt
    • Oil for deep frying

    Addition for air-fryer / baked lauki kofta

    • Maize flour/makai flour
    • Rice flour

    For dudhi kofta curry:

    • Oil
    • Onion
    • Tomato puree
    • Spices for gravy
    • Cumin seeds
    • Red chili powder
    • Turmeric powder
    • Coriander powder
    • Garam masala
    • Salt
    • Water
    • Chopped coriander for garnish

    How to make ghia kofte? (Traditional method)

    This is the traditional style -frying method.

    1. Peel and grate bottle gourd and add salt. You may squeeze the water and use that in the gravy. If you may not squeeze the excess water to make this recipe for ghiya kofta, then you need to add enough besan to it. You can always make extra doodhi kofta and freeze it. Use it later.

    lauki kofte step 3

    2. Make a round smooth ball by taking small amount of dough.

    lauki kofte step 4

    3. Heat oil in a pan. Fry the koftas until golden brown.

    lauki kofte step 5

    4. Remove once golden brown. Pat on a tissue to remove excess oil.

    lauki kofte step 6

    How to make lauki kofta in air fryer?

    air fryer lauki kofta

    1. Peel and grate bottle gourd. Add salt and mix well. This releases water from gourd. You may squeeze the water and use that in the gravy. If you may not squeeze the excess water, then you need to add enough besan + maize flour.

    lauki ke kofte in air fryer step 1
    lauki kofta in airfryer step 1

    2. Add all other ingredients including rice flour and maize flour.Mix well.

    lauki ke kofte in air fryer step 2
    lauki kofta in airfryer step 2

    3. It should have a thick consistency to make round shaped ball.

    lauki ke kofte in air fryer step 3
    lauki kofta in airfryer step 43

    4. Place all balls in the air fryer basket with a baking sheet (with holes) underneath

    lauki ke kofte in air fryer step 4
    lauki kofta in airfryer step 4

    5..Air fry them at 200 degree C for 8 mins

    lauki ke kofte in air fryer step 5
    lauki kofta in airfryer step 5

    Brush oil on the kofta and air fry again for 10-12 mins.

    lauki ke kofte in air fryer step 6
    lauki kofta in airfryer step 6

    7.Once ready, add to gravy just before serving.

    how to make dudhi kofta? ( in oven)

    For baked lauki kofta

    1. If you want to make lauki ke kofte in an oven, pre-heat the oven at 180 degree C.
    2. Place the kofte on a tray lined with baking sheet (with holes).
    3. Bake them for 10 mins.
    4. Brush oil and bake for 15 mins. Add to gravy just before serving.
    lauki ke kofte in air fryer step 5
    lauki kofta in oven

    how to make kofta curry?

    We like making this easy onion and tomato curry base for most of the Indian recipes.

    1. In a pan, heat oil add onions and let it brown. Add tomato puree and mix well.
    lauki ke kofte in air fryer step 8

    2. Let it cook until the oil oozes out, add spices.

    lauki kofte step 2

    3. Add water and let it come to a boil.

    lauki ke kofte step 1

    4. Once the gravy is ready,add kofta balls to it,let it simmer for 5 mins. Serve hot with roti/rice.

    lauki ke kofte in air fryer step 10

    Related links

    • Best Malai Kofta (air fry / fry )
    • Cabbage kofta curry
    • Mushroom Kofta
    • Lauki ki sabji - Bottle gourd curry
    • Lauki barfi- Bottle gourd squares (with coconut)
    • Dudhi thepla
    • Lauki chana dal

    Read the lauki ke kofte recipe below

    lauki kofta recipe
    Print Recipe
    4.25 from 4 votes

    Lauki Kofta recipe

    Kofta can be prepared over the weekend and stored in refrigerator, to enjoy this curry even mid-week.
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Keyword: bottle gourd dumplings, bottle gourd kofta recipe, doodhi kofta curry, dudhi kofta curry recipe, dudhi na kofta, lauki ke kofte, lauki kofte, recipe of lauki ka kofta
    Servings: 4
    Author: bhavana bhatia

    Equipment

    • saucepan/kadai for a traditional method frying
    • or air fryer or oven for a low oil version baked version

    Ingredients

    For traditional fried kofte

    • 2 cups grated Bottle gourd ghiya/lauki/doodhi/dudhi
    • ½ cup chickpea flour /besan
    • ½ teaspoon Cumin seeds
    • ¼ teaspoon Coriander seeds
    • ½ teaspoon Red chilli powder
    • ½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger
    • 1 Green chilli finely chopped
    • 2 tablespoon coriander leaves finely chopped
    • Salt to taste
    • Oil for deep frying

    Addition for air-fryer /oven-baked kofte

    • ¼ cup maize flour in addition to above kofta ingredients / makai flour
    • 2 tbsp. rice flour / chawal ka atta

    For gravy:

    • 2 tablespoon Oil
    • 1 medium Onion chopped finely
    • 4 medium sized Tomatoes pureed

    Spices for gravy

    • 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
    • 1 teaspoon Red chili powder
    • ¼ teaspoon Turmeric powder
    • 1.5 teaspoon Coriander powder/
    • ½ teaspoon Garam masala
    • Salt to taste
    • ½ cup Water

    For Garnish:chopped coriander

      Instructions

      Traditional fried version

      • Heat oil in a frying pan over medium flame for deep frying.
      • Peel and grate bottle gourd.
      • Squeeze out the water completely. Use it to make gravy(optional)
      • Add all other ingredients except salt and mix well.
      • It should have a thick consistency to make round shaped balls.(If the mixture is too loose,add 1-2 tablespoon of chickpea flour and mix well.)
      • Take a handful of mixture in a separate bowl. To this add salt and mix well.
      • Grease your palms with oil and divide the salted mixture in 4-5 portions.
      • Turn them into round balls.
      • Fry these balls in the hot oil. Stir occasionally and deep-fry until they turn little brown and crisp.
      • Take them out, drain excess oil and place them over kitchen tissue in a plate.

      Method for gravy:

      • Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat.
      • Add onions and stir-fry until it turns light pink in color.
      • Add red chili powder, turmeric powder, and coriander powder in the fried onions.Mix well and cook for another minute.
      • Add tomato paste, salt & garam masala.
      • Fry until material leaves the sides of the pan.It takes 7-8 minutes.
      • Add water (drained out from the grated gourd initially) and ½ cup water.
      • Stir, simmer and cook for 10-12 minutes more. Don’t cover the pan with any lid.
      • Drop the fried koftas in the gravy and cook for 5 mins.
      • Make sure that the koftas are fully submerged in the gravy.
      • Turn off the heat and transfer it to the serving bowl.
      • Garnish with chopped coriander.
      • Serve hot with rice or tandoori roti

      For air fryer version

      • Peel and grate bottle gourd,mix salt.
      • Squeeze out the water completely.Use it to make gravy. (optional)
      • Add all other ingredients and mix well. It should have a thick consistency to make round shaped balls
      • Roll it into small balls and place it in airfryer basket. Repeat for remaining mixture.
      • In a preheated airfryer ,Air fry them at 200 degree C for 8 mins.
      • Brush oil on the kofta and air fry again for 8-10 mins.
      • Once ready, add to gravy just before serving.

      For baking in a fan-forced oven

      • Make the kofta as per the air fryer version.
      • Pre-heat the oven at 180 degree C .Bake them for 10 mins.
      • Brush oil and bake for 15 mins. Add to gravy just before serving.

      Notes

      Refer Top tips section

      Benefits of bottle gourd & uses

      Lauki also known as 'Ghiya'/'Dudhi'/'Opo'/long melon. Cooling, calming, diuretic and anti-bilious. Most people think eat it during sickness,but it is highly nutritious. It is also a great substitute to potatoes in many gravies. You can even add a piece to pav bhaji or to tomato soup. Excellent during pregnancy and post-partum. Diet watchers as it is very low calorie. Some people also add a bit to their juice. However,you need to check it is fresh and not bitter when eating raw. You should add only a small quantity to your juice as it is di-uretic and might upset the stomach. You can also make a lot of recipes from it. Make a barfi or sweet or make a thepla, gluten-free flatbread out of it.You can make simple curries with lentils like lauki channa or enjoy it as  a simple curry or sabji.

      Substitutions

      If you do not get bottle gourd near you, you can grate a zucchini for the curry. You can also make

      • Malai kofta (vegetarian and slightly sweeter)
      • Mushroom kofta
      • Cabbage kofta if you love your meatballs.

      If you are a non-vegan, you can temper the curry with ghee or add a spoonful of butter in the end.

      Variations

      You can make the curry as spicy as per your taste by adding hot red chilly powder.You can also add garam masala powder if you like. Adding a teaspoon garam masala always makes a mild curry bit spicier.If you like a more milder version, use Kashmiri red chilly powder or paprika in the curry.You can make lauki kofta without besan too. Add makai atta instead.

      Equipment

      You can use a kadai/deep sauce pan to make the kofta curry in the traditional method. Use an air-fryer to make a low oil but great taste kofta curry recipe.

      Storage

      Store the kofta separately if making in a large quantity. Store it in a clean air-tight jar. Make a fresh curry and add kofta to it whenever you need.This way you can enjoy lauki kofta curry even mid-week.

      Top tips

      1. You may drain out the excess water from the lauki by pressing the mixture between your palms. If the water is not drained out then it will make the mixture more loose making it difficult to make round balls.Grated lauki when mixed with salt starts to release water very fast. Hence, do not keep the mixture for long.You may keep the water in the mix and add more dry flour of besan/makai.

      2. Add just one kofta in the hot oil (if frying) to check if it breaks. If it does, add a little chickpea flour.

      3. Make sure that the kofta is fried on medium flame. If you fry them on high flame then it will turn the balls dark brown quickly but will remain uncooked from inside.

      4. You can make the gravy with tomatoes,ginger and chillies only and avoid onion & garlic. 

      5. Add the koftas right before the serving, otherwise kofta will absorb almost all the gravy and becomes soft and soggy.

      6. You can also prepare the meatballs before hand and keep it in refrigerator. Use it for a dinner anytime mid week.

      7.Once you have added salt and other ingredients, use it immediately to fry/bake the koftas else they will become more loose.

      FAQs

      Is Lauki kofta good for weight loss?

      Yes as dudhi is good diuretic and good for weight loss.

      Can you freeze koftas?

      Yes in an air tight plastic jar.

      More Curries and Lentils

      • baingan sabji
        bharwa baingan recipe | air fryer stuffed eggplant
      • easy jackfruit curry recipe
        Jackfruit curry | Air fried jackfruit curry
      • bhindi fry in air fryer
        air fryer okra fry | air fried bhindi fry
      • moong dal green
        Green gram dal | Green moong dal recipe
      50 shares

      Reader Interactions

      Please share your inputs.. Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      Primary Sidebar

      Hi,I am Bhavana & this is my wonderland of recipes.I have been in IT for 15+ years have always loved writing.My husband Gaurav & I,love to cook, click & host people

      More about me →

      Easy Air fryer recipes

      • air fryer potato skins
        Air fryer potato skins | air fryer loaded potato skins
      • garlic smashed red potatoes
        Air fryer smashed potatoes | smashed potatoes recipe
      • easy hasselback potatoes
        Air fryer hasselback potatoes | Accordion potato recipe
      • air fryer potato wedges
        Air fryer potato wedges | air fried potato wedges

      Popular posts

      • onion pakora air fryer
        Air fryer onion pakora | Onion bhajiya
      • air fryer potato cakes recipe
        Air fryer potato cakes | Potato cakes in air fryer
      • saag chana recipe
        Chana saag recipe | Saag channa recipe
      • vegan hash browns
        Air fryer hash browns | Vegan hash brown recipe

      Footer

      ^ back to top

      Our Recipe collections

      • easy soup recipes
      • air fryer recipes indian style
      • Easy Indian pickles recipe | pickle recipes indian
      • Vegetarian Indian street food recipes| street food recipes indian

      Useful links

      • Contact Us
      • Recipes
      • Web Stories
      • Privacy Policy

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

      Copyright © 2022 Secondrecipe