Jump to:What is Lauki?How to pick the best bottle gourd?Reasons to make this recipe in the Instant PotHow to cut Lauki / bottle gourd?How to make the best Bottle Gourd?Pro TipsWhy is Lauki / Bottle Gourd healthy?Is Lauki good for weight loss?What do I serve Lauki with?Made this recipe? Tag us on Instagram!Lauki Sabzi Recipe LET’S BE FRIENDS ON PINTEREST! WE’RE ALWAYS PINNING TASTY RECIPES
What is Lauki?
Lauki is a super food, healthy, easy meal. It is perfect for weeknight dinners or times when you don’t have much energy to cook. This is rich in dietary fiber both soluble and insoluble and hence a great ingredient for weight-loss diet. It consists of 96% water. It’s low in saturated fat and cholesterol. You may see lauki called bottle gourd in English, but it has many names. You might also know it as dudhi, ghiya, or sorakaya in India. Bottle gourd is very popular during the warmer months. It is easy on the stomach and aids in digestion, which makes it a good choice for people who are not feeling well.
How to pick the best bottle gourd?
When you are buying bottle gourd, you should both look at and feel the outside of the gourd. It should be firm all around and a light or pale green color. It should also be slender and feel light in weight. If it is mushy or has brown spots or browning, it is no longer good.
Reasons to make this recipe in the Instant Pot
The Instant Pot makes putting together this bottle gourd curry fast and easy with a cook time of less than 10 minutes. Plus the pressure cooker turns this into a one pot meal that makes cleanup fast and easy. Better yet? It yields consistent, delicious results each and every time you make it. New to the Instant Pot and nervous about all those buttons? Don’t be. Our guide to Instant Pot cooking, called Is the Instant Pot Worth It, breaks down everything you need to know to get you using your pressure cooker like a pro.
How to cut Lauki / bottle gourd?
Slice of the ends To start, wash the gourd and use a sharp knife to remove the stem at both ends. Peel - Next, use a sharp knife or peeler to remove the skin from the lauki.Cut into half - Once the skin is removed, Make the bottle gourd stand upright (to avoid slipping while cutting along the round side) on the board and cut it into half and the quarters lengthwise Cut it- into roughly 1/2 inch pieces. You can also remove any large seeds as you are cutting the pieces.
How to make the best Bottle Gourd?
Bottle gourd is very easy to make.
Peel and cut the bottle gourd , press SAUTE mode on the Instant Pot. Once the inner pot is hot, add the ghee or oil and the cumin seeds. Allow them to cook for a minute. They will splutter around in the ghee or oil.Once the cumin is starting to crack and is fragrant, add in the onions and saute for 2 minutes. Next, add in the tomatoes, salt, turmeric, and bottle gourd pieces and mix them together well.
Make sure you scrape any spices or onions and tomatoes from the bottom of the inner pot. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the valve to SEALING. Cancel saute mode and then use MANUAL PRESSURE COOK on high pressure for 5 minutes. When the timer goes off, do a quick release to remove the pressure.Carefully remove the lid to the Instant Pot. Garnish the lauki with cilantro and black pepper powder and mix it well.Serve hot with rice or roti and Dal tadka . Enjoy!
Pro Tips
Wash the lauki first and then cut off each end to remove the stems before peeling.Avoid bottle gourds that are soft or not a pale green in color.Cut the bottle gourd into four lengthwise strips before cutting into cubes, this makes it easier to remove large seeds and cut the gourd into roughly equal sizes.You can use a knife or a peeler to remove the skin from the gourd, but I find a peeler is often easier to work with.
Why is Lauki / Bottle Gourd healthy?
Lauki is a light tasting gourd that is easy to digest. It is great for people who are not feeling well or are recovering from a stomach bug because it can help reduce symptoms from too much acid in the stomach. It is also rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and zinc. Because it’s so rich in vitamins and minerals, new moms in India often eat it within the first 40 days of having a baby to help with recovery and restoring all the lost nutrients.
Is Lauki good for weight loss?
The gourd is full of fiber. Fiber has many benefits, including helping you feel fuller for longer. The longer you feel satisfied, the less tempted you’ll be to eat more, which can help you lose weight if that is your goal.
What do I serve Lauki with?
This recipe goes well over plan rice. Rice helps soak up some of the extra sauce and flavors. It also pairs well with roti or Indian flat bread. You can use the bread to soak up extra moisture and clean your bowl out. Are you an vegetarian Indian food lover? Then you will love our recipes
Navratan kormaRajma ChawalJeera RicePalak PaneerBhindi MasalaDal tadka
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Instant Pot Ultra 6 Qt 10-in-1 Mealthy MultiPot 9-in-1 Programmable Slow and Pressure Cooker Instant Pot Ceramic Non Stick Interior Coated Inner Cooking Pot 8 Quart Rani Cumin Seeds Whole (Jeera) Spice 16oz (454g) 1lb PET Jar ~ All Natural | Gluten Friendly Ingredients | NON-GMO | Vegan | Indian Origin Simply Organic Ground Turmeric Root | Certified Organic | 2.38 oz. (3 Pack) Rani Turmeric (Haldi) Root Powder Spice,
I am a mother of 2 energetic boys, referred to as R2 (15-year-old) and R3 (10-year-old) on the blog. In case you are wondering who is R1, well that is my husband.
