Zucchini Kofta Curry

Zucchini Kofta Curry is a healthy, soft, and delicious curry. Koftas are dumplings in spicy gravy that melt in your mouth. The gravy is made with onion, tomatoes, chickpea flour, yogurt, and a few spices. You can relish these koftas with steamed rice or roti.

Zucchini is a summer squash but you can find them all year long. I simply love to add zucchini in many dishes including breads, sandwiches, pasta and desserts. It is very rich in various vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.

What Are Koftas? 

Koftas are deep fried balls or dumplings made with a variety of vegetables or cottage cheese. They are simmered in a spicy gravy made with onions, tomatoes, and a few spices.

Traditionally, koftas are deep fried, so the nutrition value of the vegetables decreases. I have made them in a paniyaram pan/appe pan with a very little oil for a healthier version. Later simmer them into a spicy gravy. If you make them healthier, you can include the kofta curry on a regular basis in your diet.

Ingredients

For Kofta:

• Zucchini
• Coriander leaves
• Chickpea flour/Besan
• Carom seeds
• Red chili powder
• Turmeric powder
• Salt
• Oil 

For Curry:

• Onion 
• Tomatoes
• Ginger 
• Garlic
• Green chili
• Coriander leaves
• Cumin seeds
• Red chili powder
• Turmeric powder
• Asafoetida
• Coriander powder
• Cumin powder
• Garam masala
• Kasoori methi
• Chickpea flour
• Almond powder
• Salt
• Sugar
• Yogurt/Dahi 
• Ghee
• Oil

Zucchini Kofta Curry Step By Step Recipe

For Kofta

Wash and grate the zucchini, add a pinch of salt, and squeeze out all the water from them.

Preheat the appe pan on medium heat.

In a bowl, add zucchini and the rest of the kofta ingredients. It will be a sticky dough. 

Add 1 drop of oil into each cavity of the appe pan. Add 1 heaped tbsp of zucchini mixture into each cavity with a spoon, again add 1-2 drops of oil on each kofta, and cover it with a lid. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes.

Remove the lid, let it cook for another 30 seconds, flip the koftas, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Flip them again and cook for another 30 seconds. 

Finish all the dough in a similar way. I was able to make 12 koftas out of the mixture. Keep them aside.

For Gravy

In a pan, heat 1 tbsp oil on a medium heat. Add cumin seeds and let them crackle. Now add asafoetida, finely chopped green chilis, garlic, garlic, and onion. Sauté for 5 minutes.

Add chopped tomatoes, salt, and mix well. Cover it with a lid and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring every few minutes. Add 1-2 tbsp of water if the mixture becomes dry.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, add yogurt, besan, coriander powder, cumin powder, red chili powder, and 2-3 tbsp of water, and mix well.

Once the tomatoes are cooked soft and mushy, add the yogurt mixture, ghee, and mix well. Let it cook for 1 minute.

Now add 1.5 – 1.75 cups of water, 2 tsp of almond powder, and cook for about 6-7 minutes on a medium low heat, stirring between.

Lower the heat, add sugar, crushed kasoori methi, garam masala, and mix well. Slowly add koftas and simmer for 1 minute. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

Variations

• If you like, you can deep fry the koftas, pan fry them on a regular griddle, or bake them in the oven for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through to 350℉/180℃.
• Make the koftas with other veggies like bottle gourd, mix veggies like carrot, cabbage, and zucchini. Adjust the besan quantity but don’t add too much. It will make your koftas hard.
• You can skip adding almond powder if you wish, simply add less water in the gravy or increase the amount of besan in the yogurt mixture by 1-2 tsp. Almond powder helps to thicken up the gravy and makes it rich in the taste. 
• Do not add asafoetida in the gravy if you are on a gluten free diet.

How To Store Zucchini Kofta Curry?

Zucchini kofta curry can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container. Reheat the required portion in a microwave.

Make koftas ahead of time and store them into an airtight container or a zip lock bag for 6-7 days. Make a fresh gravy and add the koftas just before serving.

How To Serve Zucchini Kofta Curry?

Serve zucchini kofta with roti or plain paratha and some green chili pickle. 

Zucchini kofta goes really well with jeera rice or plain basmati rice. Serve some mango pickles along with it! It tastes heavenly.

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