Dahi Wali Lauki

Bottle Gourd is a very healthy vegetable- low in fat and cholesterol; it is rich in dietary fiber. It is high water content makes it have a cooling effect. All in all it is a vegetable that brings simplicity and virtuosity together.

There are different ways one can make it. I learnt this version from my father in law and we make it often.

Ingredients

½ bottle Gourd (peeled and chopped into small cubes)
Oil – 1 tablespoon
Jeera (Cumin Seeds)- 1 tsp
Mustard Seeds (Rai)- 1 tsp
Pinch of Hing (Asafoetida)
Curd- 1.5 cup
Water- 2 Cups
Besan (Chickpea flour)
Garlic Cloves- 4-5 (paste)
Haldi (Turmeric Powder)- ½ tsp
Dhaniya Powder (Coriander Powder)- 1 tsp
Mirchi Powder (Red chili- As per taste
Salt to taste
1 green chili chopped (optional)
Chopped Coriander

Method

Heat oil in a saucepan. Add rai, jeera and hing. Once they splutter, add the garlic paste. Let it fry for a minute. Now add the finely chopped lauki. Add salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder and stir. Cover with a lid and let the lauki cook on low heat. Stir at regular intervals.
Beat the curd and add besan, haldi and chopped green chilli. Add 2 Cups of water and mix so that this it is uniform.
Once the lauki is cooked add the curd mixture to the lauki and let it simmer on low flame as you stir continuously. Once it boils, garnish with coriander and serve with any kind of bread or rice.