Bottle Gourd Curry / Lauki Chana Dal Sabzi
This lauki chana dal sabzi is a must-try if you are looking for a delicious vegan curry that is easy to prepare and wholesome. Made in the Instant Pot, it is a quick and convenient meal perfect for meal prep and is freezer-friendly.
Servings: 6
Calories: 193kcal
Ingredients
- 1 large bottle gourd (approximately 5 cups)
- 1 cup chana dal
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 1 inch ginger finely chopped
- 2-3 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1-2 green chili finely chopped (or as per taste)
- 2 medium tomato chopped
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garam masala (use store-bought or homemade garam masala)
- 2 tablespoon coriander leaves
- ½ lemon or lime
- 1½ cups water
Instructions
Prep:
- Wash the chana dal thorughly and soak in water for 1 hour.
- Wash and peel the bottle gourd. Cut it into small cubes.
- Finely chop onion, ginger, garlic, green chili, and tomatoes seperately.
Making the curry:
- Set the Instant Pot in saute mode and add oil.
- Once it heats, add the cumin seeds and bay leaf. Saute for a few seconds.
- Add onion, ginger, garlic, and green chili.
- Saute for 3-4 minutes, until the onions soften and turn translucent.
- Add tomatoes, coriander powder, turmeric powder, chili powder, and salt. Mix well.
- Saute for 2-3 minutes, until the tomatoes are soft and pulpy.
- Add the soaked chana dal and bottle gourd.
- Add 1½ cups of water. Mix well and deglaze the pot.
- Secure the IP lid and set it to pressure cook mode for 6 minutes.
- Do a natural release of pressure for 10 minutes, then do a quick release.
- Add garam masala, cilantro, and lemon juice. Mix well.
- Serve hot with roti or rice.
Video
Notes
Wash the chana dal thoroughly before soaking it. Soak chana dal for an hour and drain the water before using it. If we skip soaking the dal, it may take longer to cook.
You can also make this dish with moong dal (yellow lentil) instead of chana dal. You can also replace the bottle gourd with any other squash or even zucchini. Note that the cooking time will vary depending on the type of squash.
I prefer to make this dish slightly spicy; however, you may adjust the amount of chili as per your taste preference.
Nutrition
Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 35mg | Potassium: 325mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 409IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 3mg