Bottle Gourd Seeds

Bottle gourd is incredibly versatile in Indian cuisine and is used in a variety of dishes:

• Curries (Sabzi): One of the most common preparations is a simple curry (Lauki ki Sabzi or Ghiya ki Sabzi) made with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and basic spices. It can be made with or without gravy.
• Juice (Lauki Juice): Freshly extracted bottle gourd juice, sometimes mixed with lemon and black pepper, is a popular health tonic, especially consumed in the mornings for its detoxifying and cooling properties. (Important Note: Always taste a small piece of raw bottle gourd before juicing or cooking. If it tastes bitter, discard it immediately, as bitter bottle gourd can be toxic.)
• Halwa (Sweet Dish): Lauki Halwa or Dudhi Halwa is a beloved Indian dessert made by grating the gourd and cooking it with milk, ghee, sugar, and cardamom.
• Kofta: Grated bottle gourd is often used to make soft, savory dumplings (koftas) that are then simmered in a rich gravy.
• Dals and Soups: It can be added to lentil preparations (like Lauki Chana Dal) or made into a light and nutritious soup.