Lauki Ki Sabzi (or Sabji) is a simple and healthy curry made with Bottle Gourd (also known as Lauki, Doodhi, or Ghiya) cooked in an onion-tomato base with a few Indian spices. I'm sharing a version of this recipe made in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker. It’s vegan, gluten-free, keto-friendly, and low-carb.
Lauki is a popular choice for a quick and nutritious meal. This low-calorie vegetable, sometimes referred to as bottle gourd, ghiya, or doodhi, is a wonderful treasury of nutrients ideal for maintaining our health. This green vegetable has a neutral flavor and is simple to cook with.
I enjoy making various dishes with lauki, such as lauki chana dal, lauki kurma, lauki soup, and lauki kheer. Today, I’m excited to share my recipe for Lauki Sabzi. It is delicous, easy to make and perfect for weeknight dinner. Ready in under 30 minutes. Pairs well with roti / chapati, paratha or steamed basmati rice.
You can prepare this lauki ki sabzi in three ways Instant Pot, a stovetop pressure cooker, and a stovetop pan. I have shared steps to make it in all three ways.
Jump to:
- What is Lauki (Bottle Gourd)?
- Health Benefits of Bottle Gourd
- What Is Lauki Ki Sabzi?
- Ingredients
- How to Make Lauki Ki Sabzi Recipe
- How to Serve Lauki Sabji?
- Storage
- Tips to make Lauki Ki Sabzi
- Variations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Indian Vegetarian Curry Recipes
- Lauki Ki Sabzi (Bottle Gourd Curry) - Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
What is Lauki (Bottle Gourd)?
Lauki or bottle gourd is also known as calabash, long melon, which is a vine grown for its fruits, either harvested young or used as a vegetable in most parts of the world. This fresh, tender vegetable has a pale green smooth skin and white flesh inside. - Source Wiki
There are many names for Lauki, it's known as Bottle Gourd in English. In some other Indian languages, it's also called lauki, dudhi, ghiya, sorekai, sorakaya, churakka, dudhi bhopala, lau. They are also known as Cucuzza, Calabash, Opo Squash in other countries.
Health Benefits of Bottle Gourd
Bottle gourd has always been one of the healthiest vegetables. This vegetable is full of water, about 92%, and has rich nutrients and minerals to keep your body hydrated. It also helps in weight loss, cools your body, helps digestion, and helps in treating sleeping disorders.
This Lauki Sabji/Sabzi is a Keto or Low carb recipe; make sure to use a moderate amount of onions and tomato. If you are on a Keto or Low Carb Diet, check out my keto indian food recipes Collection.
What Is Lauki Ki Sabzi?
This low-calorie dish, made with bottle gourd, onion, tomatoes, curry leaves, and a few spices, is light and filling. You may serve it with simple chapati, rice, and other dishes.
Ingredients
- Lauki (bottle gourd): I have used 1 medium lauki, about 500 grams (appx 3.5 cups when chopped), in this recipe. Wash the bottle gourd, peel the skin, and discard any seeds. Cut into ½ inch pieces else, small pieces of lauki will get mashed in the pressure cooker. Lauki is readily available in any Indian grocery or Asian store.
- Green chilies: Lauki vegetable tastes mild. To make this doodhi curry spicy, I used two green Thai chilies, you can skip it if you like.
- Ginger: I have used only ginger in this lauki curry recipe. You can also add freshly minced garlic and ginger or ginger-garlic paste.
- Curry leaves: Adding curry leaves brings a unique flavor, so I highly recommend not skipping them.
- Onion: Use finely chopped onions that form the base for this curry. You can skip it if you are making no onion no garlic recipe.
- Tomatoes: I used finely chopped Roma tomatoes to make the base for this curry. You can also puree the tomatoes instead and add them if you wish.
- Oil: I used coconut oil, you can use any cooking oil.
- Dry spices: I used turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, and amchur powder. You can increase or decrease the spices according to your choice.
- Coriander leaves: are used for flavor and garnishing.
How to Make Lauki Ki Sabzi Recipe
Preparing the Lauki/Bottle Gourd
Wash the bottle gourd and cut off the top and bottom ends using a sharp knife.
Peel off the skin with a peeler and cut it in half lengthwise. Also, remove large seeds, if any.
Now cut each into bite-size ½-inch cubes.
Instant Pot Method
Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Heat oil, add cumin seeds, and let them splutter.
Then add minced ginger, green chilies, and curry leaves. Saute for a few seconds.
Add chopped onions. Saute till the onions are soft and translucent.
Next, add tomatoes and all the dry spices like turmeric, red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, and salt. Cook for two minutes or till tomatoes turn soft and mushy.
Then add the lauki pieces and water. Mix everything well.
Note: If your Instant Pot has shown BURN in the past, add an extra two tablespoons of water. Also, Deglaze the bottom of the pot using liquids to remove any stuck bits to avoid a BURN alert.
Close the lid securely, and turn the vent to "SEALING". Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL (High Pressure) setting and set the cooking time to 5 minutes.
When the instant pot beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure.
Remove the lid away from you, squeeze lemon juice, and garnish with coriander leaves. Mix well.
If there is any excess water, change the setting to SAUTE mode and cook until you get the desired consistency.
Lauki Sabzi is ready, serve hot with chapatis, roti & parathas.
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method
Follow the same process mentioned above for Instant Pot. Give 1-2 whistles on medium heat and let the pressure release naturally. All the other steps remain the same.
Stovetop Pot Method
Follow the same process mentioned above for Instant Pot. Cover Kadai with a lid and cook till lauki gets soft on medium flame. Do stir once or twice in between. Once lauki is cooked, add garam masala and garnish it with cilantro. All the other steps remain the same for Bottle gourd curry.
How to Serve Lauki Sabji?
Serve lauki sabzi as a side dish with roti, chapati, basmati rice, jeera rice, or quinoa. You can also serve it along with the lentils of your choice, like dal tadka, masoor dal, and kachumber salad, for a wholesome lunch or dinner.
Storage
- To Store: Leftovers stay good for 2-3 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Freeze: Freeze in freezer-safe containers or Ziploc bags for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Reheat lauki curry in a microwave or stovetop until warm, and serve. If it's frozen, defrost first and then reheat.
Tips to make Lauki Ki Sabzi
- Make sure to choose a bottle gourd that is fresh, has smooth skin, is pale green, and is free from any cuts. It should not be soft when pressed.
Variations
- Add dal: You can also add lentils like chana dal, and moong dal to this ghiya sabzi. Soak the chana dal for 1-2 hours, and then add them along with lauki in the pressure cooker. Here is the recipe for lauki chana dal.
- Add veggies: Vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes, green peas, and beans pair well with this curry. If you cannot find lauki near you, You can swap bottle gourd with other vegetables like ridge gourd (peerkangai), chayote squash (chow chow), zucchini, yellow squash, or pumpkin.
- Add coconut milk (or cream): You can add ¼ cup of full-fat coconut milk or cream at the end to make the sabzi rich and creamy.
- Spices: You can increase or decrease spices according to your preference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Lauki is low in carbs and is a great vegetable for the diet.
Bottle gourd is low fat, and high in water content. It is full of fiber
which helps you feel fuller for longer.
More Indian Vegetarian Curry Recipes
Lauki Ki Sabzi (Bottle Gourd Curry) - Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 500 grams lauki (bottle gourd) peeled and chopped into ½ inch pieces (about 3.5 cups)
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin (jeera) seeds
- 1 stalk curry leaves
- 2 green chilies finely chopped
- 1 inch ginger minced
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes finely chopped
- ¼ cup water
- salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (or ½ teaspoon of amchur powder)
- 2 tablespoons coriander leaves (cilantro)
Dry Spices
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon red chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
Instructions
Preparing the Lauki/Bottle Gourd
- Wash the bottle gourd and cut off the top and bottom ends using a sharp knife. Peel off the skin with a peeler and cut it in half lengthwise. Also, remove large seeds, if any.Now cut each into bite-size ½-inch cubes.
Instant Pot Method
- Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Heat oil, add cumin seeds, and let them splutter.
- Then add minced ginger, green chilies, and curry leaves. Saute for a few secs.
- Add chopped onions. Saute till the onions are soft and translucent.
- Next, add tomatoes and all the dry spices like turmeric, red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, and salt. Cook for two minutes or till tomatoes turn soft and mushy.
- Then add the lauki pieces and water. Mix everything well.Note: If your Instant Pot has shown BURN in the past, add an extra two tablespoons of water. Also, Deglaze the bottom of the pot using liquids to remove any stuck bits to avoid a BURN alert.
- Close the lid securely, and turn the vent to "SEALING". Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL (High Pressure) setting and set the cooking time to 5 minutes.
- When the instant pot beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure.
- Remove lid away from you, squeeze lemon juice and garnish with coriander leaves. Mix well. If there is any excess water, change the setting to SAUTE mode and cook until you get the desired consistency.
- Instant pot Lauki Sabji (Bottle Gourd Curry) recipe is ready, serve hot with chapatis, roti & parathas.
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Instructions
- Follow the same process mentioned above for Instant Pot. Give 1-2 whistles and let the pressure release naturally. All the other steps remain the same.
Stovetop Pot Instructions
- Follow the same process mentioned above for Instant Pot. Cover Kadai with a lid and cook till lauki gets soft on medium flame. Do stir once or twice in between. Once lauki is cooked, add garam masala and garnish it with cilantro. All the other steps remain the same for Bottle gourd curry.
Video
Notes
Tips & Variations
- Make sure to choose a bottle gourd that is fresh, has smooth skin, is pale green, and is free from any cuts. It should not be soft when pressed.
- Add dal - You can also add lentils like chana dal, moong dal to this ghiya sabzi. Soak the chana dal 1-2 hours, and then add them along with lauki in the pressure cooker.
- Add veggies: Vegetables like potato, sweet potato, green peas, and beans pair well with this curry. If you cannot find lauki near you, You can swap bottle gourd with other vegetables like ridge gourd (peerkangai), chayote squash (chow chow), zucchini, yellow squash, or pumpkin.
- Add coconut milk (or cream): You can add ¼ cup of full-fat coconut milk or cream at the end to make the sabzi rich and creamy.
- Spices: You can increase or decrease spices according to your preference.
Nutrition
Other Recipe Collections to Try from my blog
Mehr
Turned out perfectly. Delicious with dosa or roti.
Bhavana Patil
Hi Mehr, I am so glad you liked the recipe.. Thank you for sharing your feedback.
A
Thank you for taking your time to put this together. I’m making it right now as I type
Couple observations:
You forgot a lemon in your list of ingredients (thankfully i had some in the fridge).
I am using an IP, and On the first part 0f the description you said to use the natural release, but under the list of ingredients you said quick release… I made a combination of both because I wasn’t sure which way was the correct one. Veggies came out ok - not too overcook. Nice flavors.
Thank you again
Bhavana Patil
Oops, thank you so much for highlighting the typo Kania. I went ahead and fixed it. Appreciate your feedback here, have a great day 🙂
Jenelle
I found this vegetable at the market, and the vendor told me I could juice it. But then a friend told me her mom used to cook, so I came in search of recipes. And let me tell you, I was not disappointed. It was an incredible collection of flavours and textures. I particularly liked the punch of lemon added at the end. Next time, yes there will a next time, I plan to try some of the variations. But next time I will cut my lauki pieces a little smaller. Nice recipe...thank you.
Bhavana Patil
Hey Jenelle, thanks for sharing your feedback. Bottle Gourd is a very healthy vegetable and low in carbs and calories.. so it's one of my fav vegetables, you can also make soups, yogurt dips.. please look for the recipes from my blog. You can little spice up the curry as bottle gourd is bland by nature. Hope this helps!
Maryrose Fuscaldo
She is a star in her own galaxy.
Bhavana Patil
Thank you so much Maryrose 🙂 Have a great day.
David Nicholson
Used Cucuzza for the gourd and added half a tin of coconut milk to bring down the heat. Beautiful
bhavana
Wow thats lovely combo ,i love butternut squash with coconut milk.Thanks for letting me know David.Do try other recipes & share your feedback.
Minisha
Fast and easy and at the same time tasty. Perfect timing with the instant pot! Thank you.
bhavana
Thanks for sharing your feedback Minisha:)
Vijay Kumar K
Thanks Ms Bhavna for the guidance to make Ghiya
bhavana
You are welcome Vijay ? Thank you for trying our the recipe ?
Amit
Looking forward to making this. I tracked down some green bottle gourd which is not easy where I live. Have you tried this with regular American squash? Does it taste the same?
bhavana
Hey Amit..I havent personally tried any dish with american squash..Should taste something similar,Let me know how the bottle gourd curry turned out for you?..
Deepthi Kumar
Nice and tasty . Especially for roti.
bhavana
Thank you :)Glad you liked it.
anita rao
Easy to make and sounds very tasty
bhavana
Thank you anitha 🙂
Malathi
A very simple recipe and the dish is yum, thanks
bhavana
Thank you so much..glad you liked it.
Peeaarkay
V gpod
bhavana
thank you
Anonymous
Looks fantastic, can't wait to try this. Thank you for sharing.
bhavana
You are welcome..let me know how it turned out ,once you try it.
Arrachme
Beautiful presentation. I am very grateful to have found your site.??????
bhavana
Thank you, glad you liked it 🙂