How to make lauki ke kofte at home?

Ingredients

For the koftas

4 cups (500 gms) Ghiya or Lauki (bottlegourd), peeled and grated

1/2 tsp Ginger paste

1/2 tsp Sendha namak (rock salt)

1/2 tsp Kali mirch, pissi (black pepper powder)

2 tbsp Singhare ka atta (waterchestnut flour)

Oil for deep-frying

For the gravy

2 tbsp Ghee (clarified butter)

1 tsp Jeera (cumin seeds)

1 tsp Ginger, finely chopped

1/4cup (50 gms) Dahi (yogurt), beaten smooth

1/4 cup Khus-khus (poppy seeds) soaked in milk for 1/2 hour

1 1/2 tsp Dhania (coriander) powder

1 1/2 tsp Sendha namak (rock salt)

1/4 tsp Chilli powder

Hara dhania (green coriander), chopped for garnishing

Method

1 Squeeze water out of the ghiya; mix in salt, ginger and black pepper. Sauté over high flame, to dry up excess liquid and leave to cool.

2 Add singhare ka atta, mix well and shape into walnut sized balls.

3 Deep-fry koftas to a golden brown over high flame and keep aside.

4 Heat ghee; add jeera followed by ginger and sauté to a light brown.

5 Grind the khus-khus into a paste. Add dhania powder, salt and chilli powder and sauté till oil separates.

6 Add 2-3 cups water and bring to a boil, then simmer for about 10 minutes. Add koftas and dahi, simmer for another 2 minutes, and serve hot. Garnish the lauki ke kofte with hara dhania.