Seven Yummy Recipes for Bottle Gours to Stay Hydrated This Summer

In addition to mango, cucumber, and watermelon, bottle gourds are another summertime vegetable that helps keep you hydrated and cool throughout the intense heat. Known by many as “lauki,” this unassuming vegetable is a treasure trove of vital minerals that may restore all the electrolytes lost via perspiration.

Bottle gourd is an excellent digestive aid that helps to avoid gas and bloating because of its high water content. Lauki is a great meal for weight reduction, bright skin, and heart health when drunk as a juice with lemon and a dash of mint leaves. There are, nonetheless, plenty of additional delectable ways to enjoy this wholesome vegetable.

Make these seven lauki recipes at home to avoid the summer heat, from curry to raita.
Curry, Lauki Kofta
Delicious vegetarian dumplings with a thick sauce make up this flavorful entrée. Grated bottle gourd, gram flour, and spices are combined to make the koftas, which are then baked or shallow fried till golden brown. Lastly, to make a delicious summer lunch, these balls are put to a boiling sauce made with tomatoes, spices, and yoghurt. It pairs beautifully with roti and rice alike.

Raita is a delicious side dish to have in the summertime. Having a flavorful chicken curry or a straightforward dal-chawal, this side dish serves as a natural way to ease your stomach after a large dinner. Lauki raita is made by combining chopped bottle gourd with cold yoghurt, then seasoning with coriander, mint, and other spices.

Lauki Dal
This hearty lentil meal is ideal for squelching summertime heat. It is made from bottle gourd and lentils and is very nutrient-dense. This dish, which is seasoned with warming spices like cumin, coriander, and turmeric, is suitable for all three meals. The ideal side dish for this dal is rice or roti for a filling and light supper.

Poriyal Sorakkai
This is a tasty, easy, and soothing dish from Tamil Nadu that goes well with steaming rice, sambar, and rasam for lunch. Bottle gourd, onion, urad dal, peanuts, and spices like cumin, mustard, and asafoetida are chopped and added to sorakkai poriyal. Curry leaves are also added to this meal to give it a fragrant flavor.

This summer veggie also works well in dessert recipes. So this summer, swap up your boring rice kheer for this healthy dessert. Known by other names as ghiya kheer or dudhi kheer, it is a creamy and delectable dessert prepared with milk, sugar, and spices like cardamom. Lauki kheer may seem strange to some, but with just one taste, it will quickly become your favorite summertime treat.

Lauki Bharta
It’s a lesser-known bharta that will add flavor to your summertime dishes. This quick and flavorful recipe may be served for lunch or supper in about 30 minutes. It is best eaten with roti and has grated lauki, tomatoes, onions, garam masala, and tons of flavorful spices including cumin, asafoetida, and red chili powder.

Lauki Pakora
The bottle gourd is also a terrific addition to your evening snack. To make the besan batter, just mix together spices such as cumin, ginger garlic, turmeric, and black pepper. Then, dip the freshly cut bottle gourd into the batter. Your lauki pakora is now done when the outside layer is crispy. The pakoras go well with your favorite chutney or a steaming cup of tea.