Lauki kofta in airfryer | Bottle gourd kofte recipe

Lauki kofta is an Indian curry made with grated bottle gourd, spices and flour shaped into small kofta and served in an onion-tomato gravy. In this version, the kofta are cooked in the air fryer instead of being deep fried. They develop a lightly crisp exterior while remaining soft inside.

The air-fried lauki kofta can also be served on their own as a snack. For lauki kofta curry, prepare the gravy separately and add the cooked kofta shortly before serving. This recipe also includes oven-baked and traditional deep-fried variations.

Jump to:

• How to make lauki kofta in air fryer? (video recipe)
• Ingredients
• How to make lauki kofta in air fryer
• air fryer lauki kofta | bottle gourd kofta curry recipe
• How to make lauki kofta curry
• Tips for air fryer lauki kofta
• Variation: deep-fried lauki kofta
• Variation: make lauki kofta in the oven
• Storage and make ahead
• More bottle gourd recipes
• More kofta recipes
• FAQs

How to make lauki kofta in air fryer? (video recipe)

Ingredients

• Lauki / bottle gourd: Grate it and squeeze out the excess moisture before making the kofta. Reserve the squeezed liquid for the gravy.
• Red lentil flour: Helps bind the grated lauki and works well for air-fried kofta. A mixture of besan and rice flour can also be used.
• Turmeric and red chilli powder: Season the kofta mixture.
• Baking soda: A small pinch is added to the kofta mixture.
• Salt: Add to taste. Once salt is added, shape and cook the kofta without leaving the mixture to sit for too long.
• Oil: Used for brushing or spraying the kofta to help the surface brown in the air fryer.

For lauki kofta curry

• Oil
• Onion
• Tomato puree
• Cumin seeds
• Red chilli powder
• Turmeric powder
• Coriander powder
• Garam masala
• Salt
• Water and the reserved bottle gourd liquid
• Chopped coriander for garnish

Refer to the recipe card for exact quantities.

How to make lauki kofta in air fryer

1. Peel and grate the bottle gourd. Squeeze out the excess moisture, reserving the liquid for the gravy. Add the red lentil flour, turmeric, red chilli powder, baking soda and salt.

2. Mix until everything is evenly combined. The mixture should be moist but firm enough to hold together when pressed. Lauki releases more water after salt is added, so avoid leaving the mixture to sit for too long.

3. Shape the mixture into small, evenly sized kofta. If the mixture feels too soft to hold its shape, add a little more red lentil flour, about 1 tablespoon at a time.

4. Preheat the air fryer to 180°C / 355°F. Arrange the kofta in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between them for air circulation. A perforated air fryer liner can be used underneath if required. Cook in batches rather than overcrowding the basket.

5. Air fry at 180°C / 355°F for 10 minutes.

6. Lightly brush the kofta with oil and continue air frying at 180°C / 355°F for another 7-9 minutes, or until they are golden on the outside and feel firm. If you prefer more browning, cook for another 2-3 minutes while checking regularly.

7. Prepare the gravy separately. Add the air-fried kofta to the hot gravy and simmer gently for about 5 minutes. Serve immediately so the kofta absorb some gravy without becoming overly soft.

How to make lauki kofta curry

This kofta works well with a simple onion and tomato gravy. You can also use this onion and tomato curry base for other Indian curries.

1. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until lightly browned.

2. Add the red chilli powder, turmeric and coriander powder. Stir and cook for about a minute, then add the tomato puree, salt and garam masala.

3. Cook until the tomato mixture thickens and begins to leave the sides of the pan. Add the reserved bottle gourd liquid and water. Stir well and simmer for 10-12 minutes.

4. Add the cooked kofta to the gravy and simmer gently for about 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped coriander and serve immediately with rice or roti.

Tips for air fryer lauki kofta

• Control the moisture: Squeeze excess liquid from the grated lauki before adding the flour. You do not need to squeeze it completely dry. Reserve the liquid to use in the gravy.
• Add flour gradually: If the mixture is still too wet to hold its shape, add red lentil flour about 1 tablespoon at a time rather than adding a large quantity at once.
• Cook the mixture promptly: Salt causes grated lauki to release more moisture, so shape and air fry the kofta soon after mixing.
• Do not overcrowd the basket: Leave space around the kofta so the hot air can circulate. Cook in batches if necessary.
• Oil helps with browning: Lightly brushing or spraying the surface with oil helps the air-fried kofta develop a better colour.
• Add to gravy near serving time: Simmer the cooked kofta in the gravy for about 5 minutes and serve. Leaving them in the gravy for too long will make them softer as they absorb the sauce.

Variation: deep-fried lauki kofta

For the traditional version, heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry one kofta first to check that the mixture holds together. If it breaks apart, add a little more binding flour before frying the remaining batch.

Fry the kofta over medium heat until evenly golden and cooked through. Remove and drain the excess oil on absorbent paper.

Variation: make lauki kofta in the oven

1. Preheat a fan-forced oven to 180°C / 355°F.
2. Arrange the kofta on a lined baking tray with some space between them.
3. Bake for 10 minutes, then lightly brush the kofta with oil.
4. Continue baking for another 15-17 minutes, or until cooked and golden. Add to the prepared gravy shortly before serving.

Storage and make ahead

The cooked kofta can be prepared ahead and refrigerated separately from the gravy. Keeping the two separate helps the kofta retain their texture. Reheat the gravy, add the kofta and simmer briefly before serving.

More bottle gourd recipes

If you have more bottle gourd to use, try these other lauki recipes:

• Lauki Kheer - a creamy bottle gourd dessert made with milk.
• Lauki Sabji - a simple bottle gourd curry.
• Lauki Chana Dal - bottle gourd cooked with lentils.
• Lauki Barfi - bottle gourd and coconut squares.
• Dudhi Thepla - flatbread made with grated bottle gourd.

More kofta recipes

• Malai Kofta
• Air Fryer Cabbage Kofta Curry
• Mushroom Kofta
• Air Fryer Zucchini Kofta

FAQs