Lauki Do Pyaza (Bottle Gourd Curry)

          Any veggie cooked in a Do Pyaza style comes out really superb and delicious. Today I prepared with lauki (bottle gourd). It is an amazing recipe with lots of onion, hence the name - Do Pyaza. Make it a bit spicy and chatpata to be relished as a side dish with any form of rice or Indian bread. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

• 1 small & tender lauki (bottlegourd)
• 2-3 tbsp. oil
• 1" cinnamon stick
• 2-3 cardamoms
• 4-5 cloves
• 1-2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1 mace
• 1 onion, ground to a paste
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 onion, cubed
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1-2 tbsp. cashew paste
• 2 tbsp. yoghurt
• 1 tbsp. coriander-cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. red chili powder
• 2-3 green chilies
• 1 tsp. garam masala powder
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp. ghee
• 2 tbsp. fried onions
• handful of coriander leaves, chopped

          In a bowl, mix together the onion paste, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, coriander-cumin powder and red chili powder. Keep aside.

          Heat oil in a pan and temper with bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamoms, cloves, mace and cumin seeds. Sauté for a few seconds.

          Then add the chopped onion and sauté till they turn light brown. Now add the spice paste and fry on a medium flame till the oil separates.
  
          Add the chopped lauki and salt. Mix well and cook, covered for 2 minutes. Add 1 cup water and simmer till the veggie turns soft and the gravy reduces.

          Add the cashew paste, yoghurt and cubed onions. Simmer further for a minute. When done, add the garam masala, green chilies, ghee, coriander leaves and fried onions.

          Combine everything well and switch off the flame. Let it remain covered for 5 minutes and then serve as a side dish with either rice or chapattis.

                   Heat oil & temper with bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamoms, cloves, mace 
                   and cumin seeds. Sauté for a few seconds.

                                Add chopped onion & sauté till they turn light brown.
  

                               Add spice paste & fry on a medium flame till oil separates.
  

                          Add chopped lauki & salt. Mix well & cook, covered for 2 minutes. 

                        Add 1 cup water & simmer till veggie turns soft & gravy reduces.

                          Add cashew paste, yoghurt & cubed onions. Simmer for a minute. 

                    Add garam masala, green chilies, ghee, coriander leaves & fried onions.

                               Serve as a side dish with either rice or chapattis.

Bottle Gourd Curry in Milk

          This is my version of a simple Bottle Gourd (Lauki) curry cooked in milk. It is light on the stomach as it has minimum of spices. This veggie in general has a lot of water content and is low in fat. Hence it aids in weight loss and is recommended during summers for its cooling effect. I garnished the end product with some idli podi and coriander leaves to give an extremely different flavour. Enjoy this dry recipe as a side dish with either rice or chapattis.

• 1 medium size Lauki (bottle gourd), sliced
• 1 tbsp. ghee
• 1 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 2-3 green chilies, slit
• salt to taste
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tbsp. idli podi
• 1/2 cup coriander leaves, chopped

          Heat ghee in a pan and temper with mustard seeds. After it stops spluttering, add the curry leaves and green chilies. Sauté for a few seconds.

          Add the bottle gourd, salt, turmeric powder and milk. Cover and simmer on a low flame till it turns soft and the gravy is dry.

          Add the idli podi and coriander leaves. Mix well and take off the flame. Serve as a side dish with either rice or chapattis.