Dudhi Bateta na Shaak is a delectable curry made with bottle gourd, potatoes, ginger, garlic, tomatoes, and some ground spices. As simple as this sounds, this curry is very flavorful. So if you are someone like me who ran away from lauki all their life, please give this recipe a try. Bonus points, my toddler loves it too.
Popular Names of Bottle Gourd
- Bottle Gourd
- Lauki (Hindi)
- Dudhi (Gujarati)
- Sorakkai (Tamil)
- Sorakaya (Telegu)
- Ghiya (Hindi)
- Opo Squash (English)
God! This vegetable has gained popularity not only in Indian cuisines but also in Global Cuisines. Growing up I refrained from eating any squash family veggies. I think the soft texture was the reason, or the way it was prepared could be the reason.
But I have fallen in love with this recipe that is prepared at my maternal grandma's home. It is so simple, vegan, and scrumptious, that even my toddler loves it.
How to Cut the Bottle Gourd?
While buying bottle gourd make sure the color its color is pale green. It shouldn't have any cut marks or blemishes. The skin should be smooth, and it should be firm to handle and not soft when pressed.
Cut either ends of the dudhi. And discard the stems. Now using a vegetable peeler, peel the skin of the dudhi. Now cut it in half, and then cut the two halves lengthwise. Now cut it into forths, and make ½ inch dice for this curry.
How to Make Dudhi Bateta nu Shaak in the Instant Pot ?
I make this curry on both the stovetop and instant pot. It is extremely easy to make this curry either way.
Here's how I make it in the Instant Pot.
Use the measurements from the recipe card.
Add Oil to the instant pot. Next, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and asafetida (hing).
Once the tempering spices start to crackle, add finely chopped tomatoes, ginger garlic paste, turmeric, red chili powder, cumin-coriander powder, and salt. let the tomatoes turn mushy, add chopped bottle gourd and potatoes. Mix well.
Add water. Close the Instant Pot Lid, and set the vent on the sealing side.
Pressure cook it manually for 6 minutes and then NPR at 10 minutes.
Tips to Make the Dudhi Bateta Nu Shaak
- Cut the Bottle gourd bigger than Potato Pieces. Bottle Gourd has an intrinsic amount of water, so it becomes softer and mushier as it cooks.
- You can add small finely chopped onion to this curry, after the tempering spices crackle.
- This is a perfect recipe to add in your weekly menu. Make the instant pot version to make your weekday meals easy and nutritious.
- Adjust the spices, if you are making this for your toddler.
- Occasionally I like to add ½ teaspoon garam masala to this curry, and it tastes amazing.
More Recipes From The Blog
Dudhi Bateta Nu Shaak | Lauki Aloo ki Sabzi
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp Oil
- ½ Tsp Mustard Seeds
- ½ Tsp Cumin Seeds
- ⅛ Tsp Hing
- ⅓ Cup Tomatoes Finely Chopped
- 2 teaspoon Ginger garlic Paste
- 1 Tbsp Cilantro Stems
- 1 Tsp Red Chili Powder
- 1 Tsp Cumin Coriander Powder
- ¼ Tsp Turmeric
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 300 Gms Bottlegourd Chopped into Medium Sized Cubes
- 150 Gms Potatoes Chopped into Small Sized Cubes
- 2 Cups Water If you want rassa, if not 1 Cup will be okay.
- ½ Tsp Sugar Optional
- 1-2 Tbsp Cilantro Finely chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Cut the bottle gourd into ½ inch pieces and potatoes in ¼ inch pieces.
- To a heavy bottom pot, add oil. Let it heat on medium flame.
- Once the oil is hot, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and hing. Let the mustard seeds and cumin seeds crackle.
- Add tomatoes, ginger garlic paste, and cilantro stems.
- Add all the spices, turmeric, red chili powder, cumin-coriander powder and salt.
- Cook until the tomatoes are mushy.
- Now add the chopped bottle gourd and potatoes.
- Add water, and let it simmer on medium flame. Add sugar to balance the tartness of the tomatoes, but this is completely optional. I only add it if the tomatoes are very sour.
- Once the bottle gourd and potatoes are cooked, turn off the stove and garnish with lots of fresh cilantro.
- Serve it with rice and. rotis.
Notes
- Cut the bottle gourd pieces bigger than potatoes for the curry.
- The bottle gourd can oxidize and turn black, so soak both potatoes and the lauki in water. Strain the water, and then add the potatoes and lauki to the curry.
- Add water only if you want the curry with rassa.
- Adjust the spices as per your toddler's or kids prefrences if you are making it for them .
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