Lauki Ki Sabji (Bottle Gourd Curry)

Lauki Ki Sabji/Sabzi recipe is a simple and healthy Indian curry prepared with Bottle Gourd (aka Lauki, Doodhi, or Ghiya) in an onion-tomato base and few spices and is popular in all regions of India. Today I am sharing the Lauki Ki Sabji recipe made in Instant Pot Pressure Cooker and is a vegan, gluten-free, keto, and low-carb recipe.

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 and 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 minerals to keep your body hydrated. It also helps in weight loss, cools your body, helps in digestion, helps in treating sleeping disorders.

Other Indian Lauki Recipes that you may like from my blog Lauki Chana Dal, Bottle Gourd Paratha, Lauki Soup, Lauki Raita, Lauki Kurma, and Lauki Kheer.

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, Checkout my Keto Indian Food Recipes Collection.

This lauki ki sabzi/sabji recipe can be prepared in three different ways, Instant Pot, Stovetop pressure cooker, and on a stovetop in a pan. I have shared steps to make in all 3 ways.

Lauki Sabji Ingredients:

• lauki (bottle gourd): I have used 1 medium lauki, about 500 grams (appx 3.5 cups when chopped). Wash the Bottle Gourd, peel the skin, discard any seeds and cut into ½ inch pieces else small lauki pieces will get mashed in the pressure cooker. Lauki is easily available in any Indian grocery or Asian store.
• Green chilies: Lauki vegetable is generally mild. To make this curry spicy, I have used two green Thai chilies, you can skip it if you like.
• Ginger: I have used ginger in this lauki curry recipe, you can also add minced garlic along with ginger.
• Curry leaves: Adding curry leaves gives a unique flavor to this lauki sabzi. I definitely suggest not skip it.
• Onion: I have used finely chopped onions for this recipe as the base. You can prefer to skip it if you are making no onion no garlic recipe.
• Tomatoes: I have used Roma tomatoes to make the base for this curry. You can also puree the tomatoes instead and add if you wish.
• oil: I have used coconut oil in this recipe, you can use your preferred vegetable oil.
• dry spices: I have 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: I have used coriander leaves for garnish.

How to Make Lauki Ki Sabji?

Firstly, wash Bottle Gourd, peel the skin and cut into ½ inch pieces.

Instant Pot Method

Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Add oil to the POT. Once hot, add cumin seeds, let them splutter.

Then add minced ginger, green chili and curry leaves. Saute for 30 secs.

Add chopped onions. Saute till it turns light brown in color.

Next add tomatoes and cook for 2 more minutes till the tomatoes turn soft.

Then add all the dry spices like turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder, lauki pieces, water, salt, and mix well.

Make sure to Deglaze the pot, scrape any spice that is sticking to the inner pot in order to avoid the BURN alert.

Close the lid on the pot and turn pressure valve to SEALING position.

Furthermore, Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and timer to 5 MINUTES. When the instant pot beeps, do a NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE (NPR).

Remove lid away from you, squeeze lemon juice and garnish with cilantro (coriander leaves) and mix well.

BURN ALERT? If your instant pot has shown BURN in the past, add an extra 2 tablespoons of water and deglaze the pot before pressure cooking. You might have to put the instant pot on SAUTE at the end and adjust the consistency of the curry according to your preference. 

Lauki Sabji (bottle gourd curry) Instant pot recipe 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 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. 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.

How to serve Lauki Sabji?

Bottle Gourd Curry can be served as a side dish with roti, chapati or steamed rice along with lentil of your choice like dal tadka, masoor dal.

Tips & Variations

• Make sure that the bottle gourd has smooth skin, pale green in color, and free from any cuts. It should not be soft when pressed.
• Also make this dal with other vegetables like ridge gourd (peerkangai), chayote squash (chow chow), zucchini, yellow squash, or pumpkin. 
• You can also add lentils like chana dal, moong dal to this ghiya sabzi.

Related FAQs

If you liked this, then checkout more Indian Vegetarian Curry Recipes below

• Black Eye Pea Curry(Lobia curry)
• Navratan Korma(Vegetable Korma)
• Zucchini Stir Fry
• Beetroot & Chickpeas Stir Fry
• Mushroom Masala

If you are looking for more such easy Instant pot curry recipes then check out my 25+ Indian Curry Recipes collection.

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