Lauki Malai Kofta

, , 22 comments

Lauki Malai Kofta

Make Lauki Malai Kofta | Lauki Malai Kofta Recipe
Apologies guys! It's been some time since I have been away from blogging and the blog world. I did take a month's break from blogging to wrap up other important work on my list, but extended it to two months! Also, my health took a toll, which took longer for me to be back here. I am sure I have missed a lot on other spaces, but I will soon resume to catch up with you guys.

During my absence, I received lot of responses from my readers and followers. I was often complimented for my bakes and desserts, while was also requested why common everyday cooking hardly saw the space. I had to ponder. Somehow, I wondered if everyday cooking needs to be mentioned here. There are hundreds of recipes and I know it would be great to jot them here. But, I put up this space as a repository for my own future reference too, so I can come back to view those recipes.

There have been many requests for Indian recipes, breakfast dishes, main course meals, quick bites, savories and much more beyond just desserts, no matter how common they may sound to us. So with my comeback, I promise to bring more of these.

One of the main course recipes I had seen a while ago was this Makhani Masala from ecurry. I totally fell in love with this Malai Kofta recipe. The rich dumplings in creamy gravy looked so perfect and tempting, as if they were taken off a restaurant menu. I had to try them to convince myself that they could replicate the flavors too. I followed Soma's Makhani Masala recipe exactly the same way. For the dumpling however, I used Lauki koftas instead of paneer, just to put in some health and reduce on guilt of eating this rich gravy ;). I have made Lauki koftas in the regular low fat gravy way on many occasions, but this creamy version is surely the one you will crave for those occasional treats. And yes, do reserve this for those special occasions... where you want to be showered with compliments of being a Master Chef!

The recipe may seem long and intimidating, but I promise you, it's worth every bit.

Lauki Malai Kofta

For the Lauki Koftas

INGREDIENTS

1 big bottle gourd/lauki, grated and water squeezed
1 green chili, finely chopped
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp red chili powder
Cornflour to bind
Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Bind all the above ingredients with cornflour to form a dough. Bottle gourd has a lot of water content, hence it's best to add salt to the grated bottle gourd and leave it aside for 10 mins before squeezing all the water away. Reserve this water for the gravy to be made later. You may use cornflour or chickpea flour to bind the ingredients. Make lemon sized balls and deep fry in oil on low flame till the koftas are cooked and turn golden brown in color. Keep aside till the gravy is made.

Lauki Koftas are delicious by themselves and served with hari chutney, they make good party appetizers too. When I make these, I always make more, because by the time they are out of the fry pan, they are grabbed and gone within few minutes. Proceed below to make the makhani masala, which you can make ahead in time and freeze/refrigerate till ready to use.

Makhani Masala

INGREDIENTS

1/2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
1/2 cup onion paste
2 bay leaves
2 black cardamoms
2 green cardamoms
1 tsp fenugreek/methi seeds
1/2 tbsp kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
5 cups pureed fresh tomato
1 teaspoon red chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
Salt to taste
3 hot green chillies slit (optional)
1/2 cup melted butter/ghee
1.5 cups heavy cream (I used Amul cream)
4 cups whole milk
1 tablespoon cashews, soaked and ground into a paste
3 teaspoons kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves available at the Indian groceries)

DIRECTIONS:

Heat butter/ghee/oil in a pan. Add bay leaves, cardamoms and fenugreek seeds. As the seeds begin to sizzle, add in the ginger garlic paste, onion paste, chili powder and stir fry till the fat separates. Add tomato paste, green chillies, cinnamon powder and crushed kasuri methi. Simmer to cook and reduce the gravy till the oil separates.

Add the milk & cream, cashew paste, crushed kasoori methi and simmer for about 10 minutes. Adjust the salt to taste.

Add the koftas into the gravy one at a time carefully. Turn the flame off the moment you add in the koftas and serve immediately. The koftas will soften in the gravy. Hence, add the koftas only when you are ready to serve. You may reserve some koftas aside and serve it fresh with the gravy on top of it. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and fresh cream before serving.


This is a rich indulgence and not an everyday food you can have. A low fat cheat version is by reducing the cream and using yogurt instead. But the flavors would differ and that's a compromise for health. If you are looking for that authentic restaurant flavor, I wouldn't recommend you to use substitutes. After all, there's no harm if you indulge in these once a while. Sometimes, it's fun to break rules, may be diet rules too!

22 comments:

  1. Welcome back...I luv koftas too inspite of the lengthy procedure...Looks so yum with bottlegourd it sounds delicious

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  2. yeah a big welcome to you. in between your absence I have made your biscuit pudding with little change. the dudhi kofta looks perfect for this festive season.

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  3. Welcome back and lauki malai kofta looks yummy Mallika.

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  4. Yummy looking pictures, and my family is a big fan of koftas. A must try recipe!

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  5. lauki malai kofta looks very delicious ...love the beautiful creamy gravy n loaded with those yummy koftas ..u got a wonderful collecting of dishes ..i am ur happy follower

    Satya
    http://www.superyummyrecipes.com

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  6. hey md..nice to see u back..lovely recipe and lovely clicks,...simply mouthwatering !

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  7. Nice to see u back with awesome post Mallika. The malai kofta omg i am simply drooling over it.. delicious. The pictures are looking great!!!!

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  8. Welcome back!! Lauki malai kofta looks awesome..Love that creamy gravy..Superb clicks!!

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  9. Hey M! Nice to see you back with another yummy looking dish! Even everyday food will look classy under your lens! Haha! So whatever you post is a pleasure to check out! Cheers! :)

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  10. Wow.. cute and perfect looking koftas. Love it totally. getting too tempted to make it :)

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  11. Its so nice to see you back mallika, lovely lookng kofta in a rich creamy gravy....clicks are just awesome...

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  12. Glad to see you back with a droolworthy dish, such a rich, creamy and droolworthy dish MS..

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  13. Gr8 to hear your back ;)
    i loved this malai kofta u made :)

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  14. Lovely Kofta..I Never tried the Kofta...But looking at your kofta,,,need to try..I am visiting for the first time...Your blog looks very nice,,i liked it..Do visti me some time on wwwchitranna.blogspot.com

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  15. Thank you so much for the link. your pictures are simply gorgeous! I have never made lauki kofta, but this might be the only way to get some veggies in my hubby's diet. Beautifully done Mallika.

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  16. Nice to see you back with So tempting and delicious kofta..

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  17. Yummy and mouth watering koftas...Good pics.

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  18. Welcome back Mallika!!! Am I so so glad to see ur post on my dashboard:-))

    The curry looks fabulous, have not tried making koftas with lauki yet. Hey, blogs are not just for our reference, but for our kids too, I sincerely hope my kids read my blog sometime and love cooking as I do..

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  19. Welcome back! Lauki malai kofta looks so creamy and delicious. Great photography!

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  20. ooo lala that looks rich and creamy loving pictures!

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  21. Wow..Love all the pictures...I love malai koftas...So sure to like this too...

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