Sorakkai Paruppu Kuzhambu Recipe - Tamil Nadu Style Lauki Curry

Sorakkai Paruppu Kuzhambu is a delicious and super healthy South Indian curry where bottle gourd is cooked with lentils to make a tangy curry. Best served with steamed rice and a dollop of ghee.

Archana's Kitchen
Sorakkai Paruppu Kuzhambu Recipe - Tamil Nadu Style Lauki Curry
7498 ratings.

Sorakkai Paruppu Kuzhambu Recipe is a side dish recipe to prepare that can be done in about 20 minutes and hence is a great recipe for a busy weeknight dinner. Made with nutritious summer vegetable-bottle gourd, the curry is full of nutrients and is a coolant to the body as well.

Usually kuzhambu is a South Indian gravy that is made with tangy tamarind or cooked along with coconut and other spices like sambar powder. Here I have used a tamarind base for the recipe to be tangy and addition if dal/pappu makes it creamy and hearty.

Kuzhambu, in general- is a staple that is made in every Tamil household on a day-to-day basis. 

Did you know: Bottle Gourd has 90% water in it. Bottle Gourd is recommended by Ayurveda for better digestion. Because of its water content, it’s a boon for weight watchers. It can help in quenching extreme thirst in diabetic patients. Loaded with essential minerals and vitamins like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, Vitamin A, C and folate, it's popular for combating high blood pressure and improving heart health.

Serve Sorakkai Paruppu Kuzhambu Recipe along with Steamed Rice, Carrot and Beans Poriyal Recipe, Phulka and Kathirikai Pitlai Recipe to make it a complete meal.

If you like this recipe, try more Kuzhambu Recipes which you can make for your everyday meals:

  1. Manathakkali Kai Vathal Kuzhambu Recipe (A Spicy Tamarind Curry)
  2. Chinna Vengaya Puli Kuzhambu Recipe (Spicy Tangy Baby Onion Curry)
  3. Chettinad Paruppu Urundai Kuzhambu (Steamed Lentil Balls Cooked in a Tangy Curry) Recipe
  4. Chettinad Style Mulaikattiya Pasi Payaru Kuzhambu (Sprouted Green Gram Curry)

Cuisine: Tamil Nadu
Course: Main Course
Diet: Vegetarian
Prep in

10 M

Cooks in

15 M

Total in

25 M

Makes:

6 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Bottle gourd (lauki) , cut into medium sized pieces
  • 1 cup Yellow Moong Dal (Split) , washed and soaked
  • 1 teaspoon Ghee
  • 1/2 teaspoon Mustard seeds (Rai/ Kadugu)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeera)
  • 1 sprig Curry leaves , torn
  • 2 Dry Red Chillies , broken
  • 10 Pearl onions (Sambar Onions) , quartered
  • 1 Tomato , finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup Tamarind Water
  • 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric powder (Haldi)
  • 1 tablespoon Sambar Powder
  • Salt
  • 6 sprig Coriander (Dhania) Leaves , finely chopped

How to make Sorakkai Paruppu Kuzhambu Recipe - Tamil Nadu Style Lauki Curry

  1. To begin making Sorakkai Paruppu Kuzhambu Recipe, into the pressure cooker combine the bottle gourd, yellow moong dal, tomatoes, salt, turmeric powder and half a cup of water.

  2. Pressure cook this for two whistles and turn off the heat. Allow the cooker to release the pressure naturally. Keep aside.

  3. Heat ghee over medium heat in a heavy bottom pan; add the mustard seeds and cumin seeds, and allow them to crackle. 

  4. Next add the curry leaves, dry red chillies and onions and saute for about a minute or until the onions turn transparent and golden brown.

  5. Once the onions have turned golden, add the tamarind water, sambar powder and allow it to come to a brisk boil for 3 to 4 minutes till the raw taste from the tamarind goes away.

  6. Finally add in the bottle-gourd dal mixture and bring the Sorakkai Paruppu Kuzhambu to a brisk boil. Once done, turn check the salt and adjust to taste accordingly. 

  7. Stir in chopped coriander leaves to the Sorakkai Paruppu Kuzhambu and serve hot.

  8. Serve hot Sorakkai Paruppu Kuzhambu Recipe along with Steamed RiceCarrot and Beans Poriyal RecipePhulka and Kathirikai Pitlai Recipe to make it a complete meal.