Litchi Kofta

5 from 1 vote

Try this unique Summer recipe, Litchi Kofta. Fresh litchis stuffed and dunked in a rich gravy, this curry makes a great side for any flat bread or steamed rice.

Serve along with onions, pickles and a salad for a complete meal.

Prep Time30

Cook Time30

Total Time1

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Vegetarian

Servings:

Calories: 139kcal

Author: Smruti

Ingredients

8-10 litchi
1 medium onion
3 medium tomatoes
1½ teaspoon chili, garlic, ginger paste
2 cinnamon sticks
2 green cardamom
1 bay leaf
4 cloves
1 medium potato (boiled and peeled)
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1½ teaspoon turmeric powder
1½ teaspoon red chili powder
1½ teaspoon garam masala
1½ teaspoon dhania jeera powder
1½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon oil
2 teaspoon unsalted butter
3-4 stalks cilantro

Instructions

In a pan add oil.
Add in the whole spices and sauté for a few minutes till the spices are fragrant.
Then add chili, garlic, ginger paste and chopped onions. Cook on medium heat for 4-5 minutes.
Add 1 teaspoon of the ground spices and 1 teaspoon salt and mix well. Cook till the spices are fragrant.
Next add chopped tomatoes. Let them cook.
Add some water if required and let the tomatoes soften and release their skins.
Turn down the flame and let the mix cool. Add to a blender jar.
Blend well and set aside.
Peel the litchis and remove the seeds.
In a bowl add mashed potato, cilantro, ½ teaspoon each of turmeric powder, garam masala and salt.
Mix everything well.
Carefully fill the mix into the litchis and set them aside.
In a pan heat unsalted butter and add cumin powder.
Once the cumin seeds pop, add the gravy.
Bring it to a simmer and then add the litchi koftas in it. The heat from the gravy will make the litchis soft. They can be cooked more if desired.
Top with cilantro and serve with parathas, roti or steamed rice.

Video

Notes

The recipe needs fresh litchis. The fresher the fruit, the better the curry.
Peel the litchis and remove the seeds carefully. Ensure they do not fall apart while removing the seed. To easily remove the pit, simply place a straight slit on the litchi and remove the pit. Make sure the flesh does not fall apart.
The whole spices can be ground with the rest of the ingredients or removed before processing.
The gravy can be strained before adding if desired.
Replace boiled potato with crumbled paneer or tofu if you like. Or mix them and use.
Replace fresh tomatoes with canned ones if you like. One can of 7 oz would work instead of the tomatoes.
If you prefer, add some cream to the curry at the end. This makes the curry creamy and richer.
Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates using an automated calculator. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition