Lauki Kofta

Step 1

Peel and grate a medium sized lauki (bottle gourd). You would have around 1 & 1/2 cups to 2 cups grated lauki. Add it to a large bowl and then add 1/4 teaspoon salt to it. Let it sit for 15 mins.

Step 2

Then transfer the lauki to a muslin cloth, and squeeze as much water as possible from the lauki and transfer it to another bowl.

Step 3

To that now, add besan, rice flour, chopped green chili, grated ginger and garam masala. Mix everything together using your hands.

Step 4

Add little water as needed and bring it all together. This mixture will be loose and that's what you want. Divide mixture into 7 to 8 parts. The consistency will be like of onion pakora. We need this consistency so that it cooks well in the air fryer (especially from the inside).

Step 5

Preheat your air fryer according to manufacturer's instructions. Arrange the koftas into the air fryer. Spray with oil and air fry at 350 F for around 20 minutes. Every air fryer is different so you may need 2 minutes less or 2 minutes more. Shake once at the halfway mark. The koftas are now done, set them aside. Let's make the curry now.

Step 6

To a pan on medium heat, add 2 tsp oil. Once it's hot add sliced onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until soft and translucent. Then add ginger-garlic paste, sliced tomatoes and chopped green chili.Add 1/4 teaspoon salt for the tomatoes to cook faster.

Step 7

Cover and cook for around 4 to 5 minutes until the tomatoes soften, there's no need to cook them completely, just need to soften them a bit.  Remove the pan from heat and let it cool down a bit. Then transfer to a blender and blend to paste. Set this aside.

Step 8

Heat a pan on medium heat. Once hot, add 1 tablespoon of oil to it, then add cumin seeds and let them sizzle.

Step 9

Add the prepared onion-tomato paste to it and stir. Followed by adding the spices: coriander powder, turmeric, red chili powder. Cook the spices for 1 minute.

Step 10

Continue to cook the masala for 5 to 6 minutes until you see oil leaving from the sides. The color of the masala will also change at this point.

Step 11

At this point add 2 cups water, some garam masala, kasuri methi and salt to taste. Stir and let this come to a gentle boil. Add the prepared koftas and simmer the curry for 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot.