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Home » By Indian Cuisine » Andhra recipes » Bottle Gourd Stew | Sorakaya Pulusu (stove top & instant pot)

Bottle Gourd Stew | Sorakaya Pulusu (stove top & instant pot)

Published: Sep 5, 2019 · Modified: May 7, 2020

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Bottle gourd stew also called as sorakaya pulusu or anapakaya pulusu is a lip smacking tamarind-yogurt gravy made with bottle gourd.

A perfect combination of spice, tang and sweet makes this a must try recipe for all the bottle gourd lovers.

bottle gourd curry in a bowl topped with onion and coriander, on the side is cooked barely.

Bottle gourd is called Dudhi or lauki in Hindi. With few variations, this recipe is called Lauki ki subzi or dudhi curry in the north.

In Andhra we call it Sorakaya or Anapakaya. Pulusu refers to some kind of stew, hence the name bottle gourd stew.

Growing up this stew was one of my favorite ways of eating Bottle gourd. Now I make this pulusu to my family all the time.

Recently I saw Aashritha @infinityplatter shared this recipe in her Instagram stories. The recipe looked very similar to what my mom made. But what caught my attention was Aashritha added butter milk and jaggery in the recipe. I knew I had to try her version and I am glad I did. We just loved it..

So here is the recipe of Sorakaya Pulusu ( bottle gourd stew) which I made on stove top. Its fairly an easy and quick recipe with staples ingredients easily available at home.

But if you want to make it lot more quicker, Instant pot and Pressure cooker come in handy. Please check the recipe card below on how to make bottle gourd stew in Instant pot or Pressure cooker.

bottle gourd curry topped with curry leaves in a steel pan
bottle gourd curry ingredients

Ingredients needed for making Bottle Gourd Stew/ Sorakaya Pulsu:

  • Bottle Gourd
  • Onion, ripe tomato, ginger and garlic
  • Spices – coriander and cumin powder, red chilly powder
  • Buttermilk
  • Tamarind pulp
  • Jaggery

How to make Bottle gourd stew ?

1)Wash and peel the bottle gourd and cut them to two inch long pieces. If the bottle gourd has mature seeds please remove them. If the seeds are soft and tender you can use them.

2) Heat oil in a pan and bottle gourd,a pinch of turmeric and quarter tea spoon of salt. Cook the bottle gourd till soft , but not mushy. Remove and set a side.

bottle gourd stew

3) Clean the same pan and add the rest of the oil. Once the oil gets hot add the mustard and let splutter. Add the cumin seeds and curry leaves. Saute for 15 seconds.

bottle gourd stew

4) Add onion and sprinkle some salt and turmeric. Cook till onion turn soft.

bottle gourd stew

5) Add the chopped ginger and garlic and cook for a minute.

bottle gourd stew

6) Add the tomato and cook till soft.

bottle gourd stew

7) Add the coriander powder, cumin powder, red chili powder, jaggery and salt. Cook for two to three minutes.

bottle gourd stew

8) Now reduce the heat to low and slowly add the buttermilk and mix it well.

bottle gourd stew

9) Add the tamarind paste and water ( about 1.5 cups). Adjust the amount of water depending of how thick or thin you like the gravy.

bottle gourd stew

10) Bring the gravy to a boil and check for seasoning.

11) Add the bottle gourd and mix well. On medium heat cook the curry for ten minutes.

bottle gourd stew

12) Finally add the coriander leaves and turn off the stove. Serve this curry with rice and tomato rasam.

bottle gourd stew
bottle gourd served in a black bowl with cooked barley and cucumber and masala peanuts

Serving suggestions for Bottle gourd stew –

You can serve this stew with any kind of rice or chapathi.

Few Bottle Gourd recipes from the blog –

Bottle gourd Curry // Bottle Gourd Pachadi // Bottle Gourd Peel Chutney

Recipe card on how to make Sorakaya pulusu:

sorakaya pulusu served with barley and masala peanuts

Bottle Gourd Stew (Sorakaya Pulusu)

Lip smacking, delicious curry made with bottle gourd.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Madhavi

Ingredients

  • 3 cups bottle gourd 2 inch cubed
  • 2 medium onion finely chopped
  • 3 ripe tomato
  • 2 inch ginger finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 1 cup buttermilk mix ¾ cup yogurt with about ½ cup water and whisk
  • ¼ cup tamarind pulp or as per taste
  • 1.5 tsp coriander powder
  • ¾ tsp cumin powder
  • ¾ tsp red chili powder or to taste
  • salt to taste
  • ½ tsp mustard seeds
  • ½ tsp cumin seeds
  • 2.5 tbsps oil
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • 3 tbsp coriander leaves
  • 1 tsp jaggery or sugar
  • pinch asafotedia
  • ½ tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 to 1.5 cups water (1.5 cups for stove top method)

Instructions

Prepping the ingredients-

  • Wash and Peel the bottle gourd. If the bottle gourd has lot of mature seeds, you may want to remove them. If not it will spoil the taste of the stew. If the seeds are tender you can keep. Cut them to two inch long cubes.
  • To make butter milk- take ¾ cup plain yogurt ( not sour) and ¼ cup of water. Whisk till no lumps.
  • For tamarind pulp – soak small piece of tamarind in ½ cup of hot water for ten minutes. Mix and remove any impurities.

Stove Top Method –

  • Heat a table spoon of oil in a pan and add the bottle gourd pieces, quarter tea spoon of salt and turmeric. Cook till the bottle gourd are soft but not mushy.
    Set a side.
  • In a pan heat rest of the oil. Add mustard seeds and let them pop.
    Add cumin seeds, curry leaves and asafotedia. Cook for 15 seconds.
  • Add the onion, turmeric and pinch of salt. Cook till onions turn soft.
    Its important to cook till onions are soft, before going to the next step.
  • Add the ginger garlic pieces and cook for two to three minutes.
  • Now add the tomato and cook till soft and mushy.
  • Add coriander powder, cumin powder, red chili powder,salt and jaggery. Cook for three minutes.
  • Now reduce the flame to low and slowly add in the buttermilk. Mix well and cook till the oil oozes out, about three to four minutes.
  • Add the tamarind pulp and water and mix well. Check for the seasoning and adjust.
  • Add the cooked bottle gourd, mix and simmer for ten minutes.
  • Finally add coriander leaves and switch off the flame.
  • Serve the Sorakaya Pulusu with rice or roti.

Instant Pot Method-

  • Turn the instant pot on saute mode. Heat the oil and add mustard seeds. Let mustard splutter. Add cumin seeds, curry leaves and hing. Saute for 10 seconds.
  • Add onion, ginger, garlic and turmeric. Cook for two minutes.
  • Now add the bottle gourd pieces and coat with oil.
  • Add the tomato, spices, salt and jaggery. Cook for a minute.
  • Add the tamarind juice and 1 cup of water. Mix well and cancel the saute mode.Close the lid, vent in sealing position.
  • Change the instant pot setting to pressure cooker or manual mode. Cook on high for five minutes.
  • Do natural release after 10 minutes. If the pressure is still up even after ten minutes, release the rest of the pressure and open the lid carefully.
  • Slowly add the butter milk and mix well. Turn on the saute mode and cook for two minutes or until you get the desired consistency.
  • Turn off the saute mode and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

Stove Top Pressure Cooker Method-

  • Follow the same instructions as the instant pot method but for the stove top pressure cooker, cook the stew in medium flame for two whistles.
  • Once the pressure release naturally add the buttermilk and cook for couple of minutes till you get the desired consistency for the gravy. Garnish with cilantro.
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @MadhusEverydayIndian or tag #MadhusEverydayIndian!

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Comments

  1. barbara

    March 17, 2023 at 1:07 pm

    I only gave this recipe one star because important information is missing.

    it looks like a delicious recipe and I would like to try it for my family but I need to know the calories in each serving.

    can someone tell me?

    Reply
    • Madhavi

      March 17, 2023 at 8:28 pm

      How can you give it a one star with out even trying the recipe? I don’t share calorie information for my recipes. I believe in portion control…..

      Reply

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Hello there, I am Madhavi, welcome to my blog! I share vegetarian, dairy and egg recipes from India and around the world. Hope you enjoy my recipes and Happy Browsing!

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