Lauki, which is even known as bottle gourd, is an Indian side dish cooked with onion, tomato, and basic spices. It is a traditional as well as a minimal dish that you can cook in minutes whenever you want to eat something healthy yet comforting. People generally prefer lauki ki sabji recipe to be eaten with steamed rice, chapati, and multigrain flatbreads.
Lauki is a Hindi name for the vegetable opo squash. This cylindrical vegetable is known by different names in various places, such as long melon and bottle gourd, while the one that is round in shape is known as a calabash. However, it is neither a squash nor a melon, but it is always a gourd.
About The Lauki ki Sabji Recipe 2025
When it comes to Indian cuisine, lauki is often used to make dishes such as stir-fry, curry, chutney, stew, raita, dal, sambar, kofta, and kheer. You can even make bharwa lauki, but only when you have sufficient time and want to eat something tasty.
Recipe for lauki ki Sabzi or Doodhi ki sabji is one of the simplest Indian dishes you can prepare, and unlike other dishes, it is prepared with minimal oil and spices. It’s a perfect food whenever you want a break from fancy and spicy dishes.
How to Choose Lauki?
Here’s a small piece of advice on how to choose a bottle gourd while going grocery shopping. Look for a small lauki that is pale green in color with thin yet smooth skin. This type of lauki generally has no seeds inside. Lauki should always be heavy; it indicates its freshness.
Generally, lauki with dark green skin shows tougher skin, which needs to be peeled deeper. This may have large seeds, which you need to discard while cutting.
Takeaways
Including bottle gourd in your day-to-day diet is an effective way to develop overall health; all credit goes to its rich nutrient profile and multiple health benefits. From curing digestion and weight loss to supporting mental health and helping in managing diabetes, this vegetable deserves a place in your daily diet for sure.
How To Make It: A Simple Lauki Ki Sabji Recipe
This Lauki ki Sabji Recipe makes 3 servings. If you want to cook for more people, increase the quantity of all the ingredients proportionally.
1. Prepare the mentioned ingredients to make Lauki ki Sabji Recipe:
- 500 grams of lauki, chopped into ¾-inch pieces.
- 1 medium-sized onion, finely chopped.
- 1 large tomato, preferably deseeded.
- ½ inch ginger and garlic, peeled and chopped.
- 1 green chilli, slit
- 1 sprig of curry leaves (optional)
2. Pour 2 tbsps of refined oil into a hot kadhai. Add half tsp cumin seeds. When they start to splutter, add a pat of dry curry leaves.
3. Add chopped onions, ginger, garlic and green chilies.
4. Sauté the onion until it changes color on medium heat.
5. Add chopped tomatoes and salt to taste. Mix and cook until the tomatoes become soft and mushy.
6. Stir, then add ½ tsp Kashmiri chili powder, 1/8 tsp turmeric, and ¾ tsp coriander powder.
7. Mix all the ingredients and sauté for 1 minute.
8. Add the chopped lauki and a pinch of salt.
9. Stir fry on high flame for 3-4 minutes.
10. Pour ¼ cup water and mix all well. Reduce to medium and cover the kadhai with a lid. Let it cook. Add water if required.
11. When the lauki is soft, you can taste it once and add salt if required. Now add ½ tsp of fennel powder, turn off the flame, and let it sit covered for 2-3 minutes before serving.
12. Garnish lauki with chopped and fresh coriander leaves. Serve hot with rice or chapati.
# Notes
- Initially, when cooking curry in a cooker, cook for just 2 whistles.
- Chop the lauki to the desired shape and size. However, remember that if you cut it into large pieces, it will take longer to cook.
- Additionally, for gravy, you can add more water to achieve the desired consistency.
- Lauki sabji tastes good when prepared spicy.
How to make quick Lauki Sabji without Onion & Garlic?
To make the Lauki ki Sabji Recipe without onion & Garlic, you just need to follow the instructions given below:
Ingredients to make Lauki ki Sabji Recipe wihtout onion & Garlic,
- Lauki/ Bottle Gourd/ Ghiya
- 1 medium size tomatoes (chopped)
- Cumin seeds – ½ tsp
- Coriander Powder – 1 tsp
- Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp
- Fennel Seeds – ¼ tsp
- Red chilli powder – ¼ tsp
- Ghee – 1 tsp
- Salt as per your taste
Lauki ki Sabji Recipe without onion & Garlic
- Wash and peel bottle gourd. If you don’t have much time, you can simply use a pressure cooker.
- Wash and finely chopped tomatoes.
- Heat ghee in a pressure cooker. You can also use any other cooking oil of your choice.
- Add cumin seeds to splutter, add tomatoes, and cook till it softens.
- Add all the dry masalas mentioned above in the ingredients section to the cooking tomatoes. Fennel seeds are totally optional.
- Add the bottle gourd and mix everything well. Add a little water, as lauki already has 92% water content. It will release water while cooking.
- Put the lid on the pressure cooker and cook the dish till 2-3 whistles on medium heat and switch off the flame. Wait till the pressure is released in the cooker.
- Maintain the water consistency as needed, mash slightly with a potato masher, garnish with fresh coriander leaves, and serve hot.
Since it’s a no-onion-garlic recipe, you can make this dish during fasts along with kuttu and singhare ke paranthe or poori. Add spices according to your choice. Replace sendha namak with your regular table salt. Also, if you don’t use turmeric or tomatoes during fasting, you can simply skip them.
Things to Keep in Mind while Making Lauki Sabji at home
- Cut the whole lauki into equal pieces for perfect cooking.
- Never overcook lauki. Else, it will taste like porridge.
- Lauki already has a high water content, so add water in limited quantities.
- Make sure to cook the onion and tomato thoroughly. Otherwise, it’s going to give you a raw smell.
- Reduce the flame to low while adding spices to prevent them from burning.
Benefits of Adding Bottle Gourd to Your Diet
- Natural antimicrobial properties: The bottle gourd possesses natural antibacterial & antifungal properties that can help the human body fight infections & strengthen the immune system.
- Rich in Calcium and Vitamins: Bottle gourds are an amazing source of Vitamin C and K. The high water content in the vegetable prevents dehydration & keeps the body cool.
- Helps with health conditions: Bottle gourds can aid in managing liver, heart, and ulcer-related issues. High potassium levels help regulate blood pressure.
- Packed with antioxidants: Bottle gourd is a rich source of antioxidants, which helps the body fight against harmful free radicals. This protects cells, lowers the risk of cancer, and reduces oxidative stress.
- Great for Weight Loss: Low in cholesterol and fat, yet high in fiber, bottle gourd is a fantastic choice for those who want to lose weight while staying nourished.
- Traditionally used in medicines: Parts of lauki- stems, leaves, oil, fruits, and seeds have been used to cure ulcers, diabetes, colitis, piles, mental disorders, high blood pressure, and skin-related issues.
- Fights parasitic infections: All thanks to its anthelmintic properties, lauki can assist in eliminating parasitic worms and other internal parasites, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy gut.
- Helps in Diabetic Management: Lauki has a low glycemic index and contains blood sugar-lowering components, making it an ideal option for people with diabetes.
- Develops mental health: Bottle gourds are super high in choline, which can help boost mental health & cure anxiety.
- Helps in curing constipation, cough, and night blindness: Lauki pulp is generally used to treat cough, constipation, and night blindness. It can also play the role of an antidote for specific poisons & is a great option for lactose-intolerant people.
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FAQs:
Lauki ki sabji is a basic Indian dish cooked with less oil and spices. It’s a traditional dish that you can have when you want to eat something comforting and healthy.
The rich amount of water content in this seasonal must-have makes it a summer favorite. Lauki, popularly known as bottle gourd, is rich in water and fiber.
Yes, you can. Use only tomatoes to prepare this vegetable, along with Indian spices to enhance its flavor.
Lauki ki sabji goes well with steamed rice or jeera rice or even with saffron rice. You can even have it with roti, chapati and bhakri.
The major health benefits include aiding digestion, supporting weight management, and promoting heart health.
