Lauki ki Muthiya – Steamed Bottle Gourd Dumplings

Ingredients (3-4 servings)

2 cups bottle guard (Doodhi, Lauki) grated

1/2 cup whole wheat flour (atta)

1 cup suji (rava,semolina)

1/2 cup Bengal gram flour (Besan)

1 tsp ginger grated

1 tsp chilli paste

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp Cumin seed (jeera)

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp sugar

2 tbsp green coriander leaves (chopped)

1/4 tsp soda bi corb

1/4 tsp asafoetida

2 tbls oil

1/2 tsp mustard seed

1 tsp sesame seed( Safed til)

Method (How to make Lauki Ki Muthiya)

Peel the skin of the bottle gourd and grate this in a fine grater.

Squeeze the excess water from the grated bottle gourd and keep aside..

Combine the bottle gourd, whole wheat flour, Suji, besan, ginger-green chilli paste, turmeric powder, lemon juice, sugar, coriander, soda bi-carb, asafoetida, salt and 1 tsp of oil in a bowl, mix well and knead into a soft dough adding water if required (use that water squeeze from the bottle guard)

Apply some oil on your hands and divide the mixture into 4 equal portions.

Make this into small cylindrical shapes.

Steam this for 20 to 25 mins (check by inserting a tooth pick.) It should come out clean.

When it is cool, cut this into 1/2 inch slices and keep aside..

Now heat oil in a non stick pan or kadhaiadd mustard seed When the seeds start crackle, add the cumin seed sesame seeds and asafoetida and sauté on a medium flame for a few secondsAdd the cut muthias pieces to this. and saute on medium flame 4-5 min. or till they turn colour light brown.

Garnish with green coriander leaves and serve hot with tea.