Ingredients
- 1 Bottle gourd (lauki)
- 2 Onions , chopped
- 2 Tomatoes , finely chopped
- 1 tsp Red Chili powder
- 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
- 1 tsp Coriander Powder
- 1 tsp Cumin seeds
- 4 tbsp Oil
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tbsp Kasturi Methi
- Salt , to taste
- 3 sprig Coriander Leaves finely chopped For Paneer Bhurji(stuffing)
- 1 cup paneer crumbled
- 1 tsp Cumin seeds
- 1 Onion , finely chopped
- 1/2 Green Bell Pepper (Capsicum) , finely chopped
- 1 Green Chili , finely chopped
- 1 tsp Coriander Powder
- 1 tsp Red Chili flakes
- Salt , to taste
- 1 tsp Fresh cream
- Directions
To begin making the Bharwa Lauki , we will first prepare the stuffing of Paneer Bhurji.
In a deep pan, heat a tablespoon of oil and add cumin seeds and let it crackle. Now add the chopped onions and saute it till they become soft and transparent.
Once it is done, add the capsicum, crumbled paneer, salt, coriander powder, red chili flakes and mix it properly. Cook it for 1-2 minutes more and set it aside to cool down.
The next step is to make the stuffed Lauki.
Peel the bottle gourd and boil it in a large vessel with a tablespoon of salt and let it boil till the gourd is properly cooked. The vessel should be big enough to hold the full gourd.
Now let the gourd cool down. Once it is done, cut the ends of gourds to remove the pith inside it using a long spoon or a fork.
Heat 2 tablespoon oil on a pan and place the hollow gourd on it. Cook it till the skins turns brown and it crisps up. Keep turning the gourd until it is golden brown from all the sides.
Now fill the paneer bhurji in the bottle gourd and slice it into 1 inch thick slices. After cutting it into thick slices, place the slices back on the pan to cook. Cook them till the both the sides turn brown.
The final step is to make the creamy gravy.
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. Once they crackle, add the chopped onion till they become soft.
Now add the chopped tomatoes and saute till they are properly cooked. Once it is done, add the turmeric powder, coriander powder, salt to taste, the leftover bhurji and the pith of the gourd that you have kept aside. Cook them properly.
Once the oil starts separating, use a hand blender and make a paste of the mixture in the pan itself. Now add 1 cup of water and let it cook for a couple of minutes.
Add sugar, kasturi methi and slices of the gourd and boil it till the gravy thicken and garnish it with the chopped coriander leaves and cream.
Serve the Bharwa Lauki along with roti, raita, some dal with gravy for a complete meal.
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