Sorekayi ( lauki) bhartha

 

Ingredients

Sorekayi ( lauki //bottle gourd)—2 small 

Tomato —3 medium sized 

Onion (irulli//pyaz)—one big or 2 medium sized 

Garlic pods (belluli//lehsun)—3

Ginger ( shunti//adarak)—small piece 

Green chillies ( hasiru menasina kayi//hari mirch)—2

Curry leaves (karibevu//kadipatta)—few

Kasoori methi—1 tablespoon 

Butter —1 tablespoon 

Oil—2 to 3 tablespoon 

Jeera (jeerige//cumin seeds)—1 tablespoon 

Salt—to taste

Sugar—1 teaspoon 

Powders 

Kadale hittu ( besan //gram flour)—2 tablespoon 

Red chilli powder—1 teaspoon 

Dhaniya powder ( coriander powder)—1 tablespoon 

Jeera powder ( cumin powder)—1 tablespoon 

Garam masala powder—1/2 teaspoon 

Hing(asafoetida//ingu)—1/2 teaspoon 

Method 

Wash the lauki and dry it completely.

Smear or brush the sorekayi with little oil all over.

Then make 4 to 5 slits with knife all over the sorekayi.

Then place sorekayi directly on the flame and roast it,turning around until completely roasted (charred).

( you can also roast in microwave or electric grill)

Immerse the sorekayi in normal cold water in a plate and remove  the skin after few minutes.

Chop sorekayi into small pieces or chop in a chopper ( do not make paste).

Chop the onions,ginger ,garlic,green chilli into small pieces

Grind tomatoes to a smooth paste without adding water ( or else you can chop finely).

Now to prepare bhartha 

Heat oil in a pan or kadai on medium flame,once hot enough add jeera and asafoetida.

Then add in chopped onions,garlic,ginger, green chillies and curry leaves.

Sauté till onions turns translucent and soft.

Then add tomato purée and saute for few more minutes until tomato is cooked properly.( you can add 1 or 2 tablespoon of water if needed)

Then add in all masala powders along with besan and keep stirring on medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes 

When masala is done add chopped sorekayi pieces,salt,sugar and mix well.

Finally add butter and kasoori methi and cook for few more minutes on low heat.

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves .

Delicious lauki  bhartha is ready to serve.

Serve with rice,roti,chapattis,poori,naan etc.