Lauki Kofta Curry is one of those quietly brilliant Indian dishes that surprises people the first time they try it. Soft, spiced bottle gourd koftas are tucked into a rich and creamy tomato gravy, soaking up flavor while staying impossibly tender inside. It's comforting, elegant, and far more flavorful than you'd ever expect from a vegetable that doesn't always get the spotlight it deserves.
Bottle gourd, also known as lauki or doodhi, is often underestimated. Mild, slightly sweet, and incredibly hydrating, it's used widely across Indian home cooking. Growing up, lauki showed up often in our kitchen - sometimes as a simple sabzi, sometimes grated into parathas, and on special days, transformed into kofta curry. It's a dish that feels comforting without being heavy, and it's especially common in North Indian home cooking where vegetables are stretched into satisfying meals.
My mom's version of Lauki Kofta stays true to the classic preparation while offering modern options, including air-fried koftas for a lighter approach. Whether you're cooking for a weekend dinner, guests, or a festive vegetarian spread, this lauki kofta curry delivers comfort and flavor in every bite.
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Why You'll love this Recipe
- Vegetarian comfort food, but it doesn't feel like it! The bottle gourd makes delicious deep fried or air fried fritters, the kids won't even be able to tell.
- Impossibly soft, fluffy koftas that soak up the curry beautifully
- Make-ahead friendly - tastes even better the next day when the koftas double in size from soaking up the curry
- Air fryer & baked options included for lighter cooking
- Naturally egg-free, gluten-free, and easy to adapt for different diets
Ingredients - Notes and Substitutions
Lauki, also known as bottle gourd, opo squash, or calabash, is a mild, watery vegetable commonly used across Indian kitchens. When grated and squeezed well, it becomes the perfect base for koftas - tender deep-fried fritters that are ideal for absorbing flavor.
In this dish, lauki koftas are paired with a tomato-based curry enriched with besan and sour cream or yogurt, creating a balanced, comforting texture without heaviness. Unlike cream-heavy restaurant-style curries, lauki kofta at home is often lighter, tangier, and more vegetable-forward.
- Bottle Gourd (Lauki) - Bottle gourd is one of those vegetables that thrives in hot climates - we grow it in our Arizona garden, where it handles summer heat beautifully and produces endlessly. The key to good kofta is removing as much moisture as possible. Lauki holds a lot of water, and squeezing it well ensures fluffy koftas that don't fall apart.
- Besan (Gram Flour) - Acts as both binder and flavor base. The moisture in lauki varies so the amount needed may fluctuate slightly - trust the texture.
- Sour Cream or Yogurt - Adds creaminess without overpowering the tomatoes. Plain whole milk yogurt works just as well; keep it at room temperature to prevent curdling.
- Tomato Puree - Use fresh tomato puree or canned tomato sauce. You can also use 2-3 ounces of tomato paste.
- Ginger garlic paste - Ginger garlic paste is very common to Indian cuisine. Substitute it with finely minced garlic and ginger in a 1-to-1 ratio.
- Spices - We're using turmeric, Kashmiri chili powder, ground coriander, cumin seeds, garam masala, and asafoetida in both the koftas and the curry. Make sure the asafoetida you're using is gluten-free if needed.
How to make Lauki Kofta Curry
- Step 1: Peel, shred, and wring out the excess water in the bottle gourd. Reserve the liquid.
- Step 2: Season with spices, ginger garlic paste, and green chili.
- Step 3: Bind the lauki mixture with besan until it forms a thick scoopable batter. Adjust with more besan as needed if there's a lot of water content in the bottle gourd.
- Step 4: Use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop or spoon to scoop up the batter and cook using your preferred method (deep fry in batches, air fry, or bake - see below).
If you're new to frying, start with one test kofta. Adjust the batter or oil temperature before frying the rest. Koftas can also break if the oil is too cool or if they're moved too early while frying.
- Step 5: The fritters should be golden brown and crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
- Step 6: Temper cumin seeds, hing, ginger garlic paste, and green chili in oil. Bloom spices, then simmer tomato purée until thick and aromatic.
- Step 7: Add 5 cups of water (including the reserved bottle gourd liquid we wrung out earlier) and a teaspoon of besan to thicken the gravy. Stir in sour cream, then gently break the koftas just slightly in the middle and add the koftas into the curry.
- Step 8: Continue to simmer until the koftas are soft and soak up the curry.
Air Fryer & Baked Kofta Options
Air Fryer Koftas
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C)
- Lightly oil the basket and koftas
- Arrange koftas in a single layer
- Air fry for 14-16 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp
These hold their shape extremely well and absorb curry beautifully.
Oven-Baked Koftas
- Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C)
- Line a baking sheet with parchment
- Brush koftas lightly with oil
- Bake for 22-25 minutes, flipping once, until golden
Oven-baked koftas are slightly softer but perfect for make-ahead meals.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Lauki Kofta curry hot with:
- Fresh roti or paratha
- Plain basmati rice
- A side of raw onion, lemon wedges, or kachumber salad
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Wring the lauki thoroughly - this is non-negotiable. Lauki releases a lot of moisture. If it isn't fully wrung dry or the besan ratio is too low, the batter won't bind properly.
- Taste kofta batter before cooking to adjust seasoning
- Crack koftas lightly before adding to curry so they absorb flavor
- Add koftas just before serving if you prefer them crisp
- Air fryer koftas are ideal if you plan to freeze or meal prep. Koftas can be fried up to 24 hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Reheat in an air fryer or oven before adding to the curry. The curry base can be made separately and refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Storage Instructions
- Store curry (with koftas) in the fridge for 3-4 days
- Freeze koftas separately for up to 2 months
- Reheat gently and add fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lemon juice before serving
FAQs
1. Oil temperature matters
The oil should be at 350-360°F (175-182°C). If the oil is too cool, the koftas will absorb oil and turn soggy. If it's too hot, they'll brown too quickly and stay raw inside. If you don't have a thermometer, drop a tiny bit of batter into the oil - it should rise steadily and bubble immediately, not sink or brown instantly.
2. Fry in small batches
Overcrowding the kadhai lowers the oil temperature and causes koftas to stick together or fall apart. Fry in batches of 5-6 koftas at a time, giving them plenty of space to move.
3. Don't touch them too soon
Once the koftas go into the oil, let them set for 30-40 seconds before stirring. Moving them too early can cause them to break apart before a crust forms.
4. Fry on medium heat, not high
Koftas need time to cook through. Maintain medium heat so they cook evenly and develop a crisp exterior while staying soft inside. This took about 4 minutes each side for me.
5. Drain properly
Remove koftas with a slotted spoon and drain on a wire rack or paper towels. Letting steam escape keeps them crisp instead of soggy.
More Indian Curry Recipes to try
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Lauki Kofta Curry (Bottle Gourd Kofta)
Equipment
- Cookie Scoop 1 tablespoon
Ingredients
Lauki Koftas
- 1 bottle gourd (lauki), ~500 g, peeled, shredded, and well wrung
- 215 grams besan (gram flour)
- ½ tablespoon ginger garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon green chili, diced
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- neutral oil, for deep frying
Kofta Curry
- 2 tablespoon neutral oil
- ⅛ teaspoon asafoetida
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- ½ tablespoon ginger garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon green chili, finely diced
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder
- 250 grams tomato sauce, or tomato puree
- 1 teaspoon besan (gram flour)
- 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
- 30 grams sour cream, room temperature*
- cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
Make the Lauki Koftas
- Heat about 1 liter of neutral oil in a kadhai or deep pan over medium heat for frying.
- Wash, peel, and shred the bottle gourd. Wring it extremely well to remove excess moisture (you should remove about 2 cups of liquid). Reserve this liquid for later.
- Transfer the shredded lauki to a mixing bowl and add ginger garlic paste, diced green chili, turmeric, Kashmiri chili powder, garam masala, ground coriander, and salt. Mix well.
- Gradually add the besan, mixing until a thick, scoopable batter forms. The mixture should hold its shape - add more besan if needed depending on moisture. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Once the oil is hot, use a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop or spoon to carefully drop koftas into the oil. Fry in batches, without overcrowding. This should yield around 30 koftas. Fry for about 4 minutes per side, turning gently, until golden brown and cooked through. The koftas should be crisp outside and fluffy inside.
- Air Fryer Kofta Option -Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Lightly oil the basket and koftas. Arrange koftas in a single layer. Air fry for 14-16 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp.
- Remove and drain on a paper towel. Set aside.
Kofta Curry
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add asafoetida and cumin seeds. Once they begin to sizzle, add green chili and ginger garlic paste. Sauté for about 1 minute, stirring constantly so the paste doesn't burn.
- Add garam masala, ground coriander, turmeric, and Kashmiri chili powder. Bloom the spices for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato sauce and simmer for 5 minutes, until the color deepens and the oil begins to separate slightly.
- Whisk 1 teaspoon besan into 5 cups water (including the 2 cups of lauki water), then add it to the pot along with salt. Bring the curry to a gentle boil and cook for 5 minutes. Lower the heat and stir in the sour cream until fully incorporated. Bring back to a gentle boil.
- Lightly crack a few koftas to help them absorb the curry, then gently add all koftas to the gravy. Cover and simmer for 5-7 minutes, until the koftas are soft and infused with flavor.
- Garnish with cilantro and serve 5-6 koftas plus the curry per person with roti or rice.
Hasan Jaffer says
This is such a beautifully written and thoughtful recipe 🌿 The way you’ve described lauki kofta makes it feel nostalgic and comforting, yet modern and practical at the same time. I love the detailed tips—especially wringing out the lauki properly and the air-fryer/baked options for lighter cooking. The make-ahead advice and storage notes are super helpful too. This is the kind of recipe that gives confidence to try something traditional and get it right. Definitely saving this one! 😍