Lauki Masala | Bottle Gourd Curry

Ingredients:

Bottlegourd – 1 large
Onion – 4 medium, cut into small dices
Tomatoes – 3 large, finely chopped
Ginger – 2 tsp, chopped
Garlic – 8
Green chillies – 1
Jeera/Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder – 1/4 tsp
Coriander powder – 4 tsp
Red chilly powder – 2 ½ tsp
Garam masala – 1 tsp
Salt – to taste
Oil – 4 to 5 tbsp
Coriander leaves – 2 tbsp, chopped finely

Method:

1. Peel the outer skin of bottlegourd and cut them into cubes. Coarsely grind ginger, garlic and green chillies.

2. Heat oil and add jeera. When they pop, add ginger-garlic-green chilly paste and fry for a minute. Add onions and fry till they are pink.

3. Add tomatoes and fry till oil separates. Add cumin powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and red chilly powder. Mix well and fry for 3-4 minutes.

4. Add the bottlegourd, salt and mix well. Cover and cook in low flame, stirring occasionally. Do not add water as bottlegourd leaves its own water.

5. When the bottlegourd becomes soft, add garam masala and mix well. Fry for 4-5 minutes. Add the coriander leaves and mix well.

Serve hot with chapathi.