BOTTLE GOURD RICE (LAUKI PULAO)

Bottle gourd rice (Lauki Pulao) is an easy and flavorful one pot meal. An excellent way to include bottle gourd in the diet.

Ingredients

1 no Bottle Gourd (Lauki) Medium Size
1 cup Onion Chopped
2 no Tomatoes
2 tbsp Oil
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
1 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
0.25 tsp Turmeric Powder
0.50 tbsp Red Chili Powder
1 tbsp Coriander Powder
1 tsp Garam Masala
0.25 cup Mint Leaves
0.50 cup Coriander Leaves Chopped
2 cups Basmati Rice
4 cups Water
2 tsp Salt (to taste)

Directions

Rinse and soak the rice in water for 20 minutes. Peel the skin of a bottle gourd, chop into small pieces and discard the seeds.
In a saucepan, heat oil, add chopped onion and cook until the onion becomes soft.
Add turmeric powder, ginger garlic paste and saute until the ginger garlic paste loses its raw smell.
Add chopped tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes become soft and mushy. Add red chili powder, coriander powder, salt, garam masala and mix well. Sprinkle little amount of water and cook until the spices lose its raw smell.
Add chopped lauki, mint leaves, chopped coriander leaves and mix well.
Add the soaked rice and mix well. Add water and bring to a boil. Check for the right amount of salt at this time and add accordingly.
When the water starts boiling, cover the pan with a lid and cook until the water gets absorbed by the rice completely. Garnish with the chopped coriander leaves, mix gently with a spatula and serve.

40mins