Introduction: What are Ghiya ke Kofte and Why Should You Try Them?

ghiya ke kofte, bottle gourd kofta, vegetarian kofta recipe, Indian vegetable dish

Ghiya ke kofte, also known as bottle gourd dumplings, is a popular vegetarian dish in Indian cuisine. It involves making dumplings or balls out of grated bottle gourd (ghiya) and combining them with a flavorful gravy. Here’s a basic recipe to prepare ghiya ke kofte:

Ingredients: For the koftas:

• 1 medium-sized bottle of gourd (ghiya), peeled and grated
• 1/2 cup besan (gram flour)
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder (adjust to taste)
• Salt to taste
• Oil for deep frying

For the gravy:

• 2 medium-sized onions, finely chopped
• 2 tomatoes, pureed
• 2-3 green chillies, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon red chilli powder (adjust to taste)
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder
• Salt to taste
• Fresh coriander leaves for garnishing
• Oil for cooking

Instructions:

1. Squeeze out the excess water from the grated bottle gourd and transfer it to a mixing bowl.
2. Add besan, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, and salt to the grated bottle gourd. Mix well to form a dough-like mixture.
3. Shape the mixture into small balls or dumplings.
4. Heat oil in a deep pan for frying. Once the oil is hot, carefully drop the dumplings into the oil and fry them until golden brown. Remove them from the oil and set aside.
5. In a separate pan, heat some oil and add cumin seeds. Let them splutter.
6. Add chopped onions and sauté until they turn golden brown.
7. Add ginger-garlic paste and green chillies. Cook for a minute.
8. Add tomato puree and cook until the oil separates from the masala.
9. Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder, and salt. Mix well.
10. Add some water to adjust the consistency of the gravy. Bring it to a simmer.
11. Gently place the fried dumplings into the gravy and let them cook for 5-7 minutes on low heat.
12. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
13. Serve hot with steamed rice, naan, or roti.

Enjoy your ghiya ke kofte!