Another recipe dedicated to the gourd family. This time it would be Lauki or Bottle gourd. This vegetable is quite common in northern part of India. Again, this vegetable is not everyone's favorite. But this recipe came out pretty good.

Ingredients:

1. 1 mid size bottle gourd - 300 gm approx
2. 1 cup gram flour (besan)
3. 2 onions
4. 3-4 cloves of garlic
5. Green chili
6. Chili powder
7. Coriander powder
8. Cumin powder
10. Ginger and garlic paste
11. Tomato - 2
12. Coriander leaves
13. Garam masala (optional)
14. Oil for frying and cooking
15. Salt to taste

• Wash, peel and grate the bottle gourd, and keep in a wide vessel
• Mince one onion, garlic, green chili and coriander leaves. Mix the above, along with the gram flour to grated bottle gourd. Add salt to taste. Mix it well to prepare a dough (not very dry)
• Take small portions of the dough, and make small, flat cakes. These can be deep fried or cooked with less oil in a wide pan.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a flat pan, when oil becomes hot, gently place the small bottle gourd cakes (pakodas) over it, without those touching each other. Cover the pan with a lid, turn the pakodas after 5-10 mins, for the other side to cook. Add 1 more tablespoon of oil if needed. Toss those couple of times till done, and keep aside.
• For curry, heat oil in a pan. Fry the onion till golden brown. Add ginger garlic paste and fry for sometime.
• Add cumin powder, coriander powder, chili powder, turmeric, sprinkle some water and cook till the masala is done. Add tomatoes that are cut into small cubes.
• Add salt and garam masala once tomatoes are cooked, and pour 2 cups of warm water and let it boil for 10 mins. Now the pakodas can be added to the gravy, and cooked in low heat for 10 more mins.

It tastes good with rice and chapatti both.