Anyway, after making it and while taking the picture it struck me how different it was looking. And it was confirmed that this is a sure case of a misleading dish when none of them guessed it right after eating it. The only verdict was it was really yummy. Of course, it was deep fried and had a lot of other things to accompany it. Still, it was an interesting dish to make. Athamma saw this in the television sometime back and she was after me in making it. Finally, when we decided to make, most things were on hand, so we changed it to what we had, since knowing the method and seeing it, thought it might be interesting.
The weekend saw me at home both the days and with kids gone to school, had the entire day to work the curry mela entries. Believe me, I had a great time reading all those beautiful entries! Give me some more time and I will come with a round up of the fabulous entries that will last for quite a while. And I took Konda for a Drama in the evening. I am sure Lak will talk about it on her blog. It was a great show by the little kids and Konda was for sure taken in by it and wants to take part next time.
Now, back to the guessing game. It's prepared with Sorakaya or Bottle gourd! It could be a Manchurian for all we know. But we tend to Indianise and especially our typical tendency to infuse spice into everything, if it's got to be served to hubby dear, this has gone through a lot of changes. Hence I really don't know what this is supposed to be. But the end result was a great tasting tea time Snack or Starter. And the process is quite long, so beware of that!

Jump to:
Ingredients
For the Dough
1 cup Bottle Gourd
1/2 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
2 - 3 tbsp Wheat Flour
2 - 3 tbsp All Purpose Flour
1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
Salt to taste
For Outer layer
1 tbsp All Purpose Flour
Salt to taste
For Topping
1/2 cup Onions
For Sauté
1/2 cup Onions
1/2 cup Tomato
1 long Green Chillies
Handful Curry Leaves
Coriander Leaves for garnish
Cooking Oil for deep frying
Instructions
For the Dough
Wash, peel and grate the Bottle Gourd. Take the grated bottle gourd in a bowl and mix all the ingredients listed under for the dough. Mix well without adding water. Since bottle gourd has some water you will be able to get a stiff dough, if required sprinkle water. Please remember the dough has to be stiff.
Making the Rolls
Using a rolling pin, roll the dough as a regular chapati. Spred the finely chopped onions on top. Tightly roll inward to cover the entire onion layer. Finally, you will get a rolled dough. Cut it to 2" circles each.
Frying the Rolls
Make a thin batter of maida for dipping. Then, dip each roll in the Maida batter, the batter is to be really thin.
Heat a pan with oil. Fry the rolls in batches and drain them on a kitchen towel.
For the Saute
Meanwhile, heat another pan with 1 tsp oil, sauté curry leaves, finely chopped green chillies, chopped onions, then finally the tomatoes. Add salt and let the tomatoes get soft. Then toss the fried bottle gourd pieces and let it get covered well. Garnish with coriander leaves.
Notes
Makes a great snack for kids as I saw that Konda didn't even ask what it was but eat few. Of course, the frying part can be avoided if you want to microwave it or do it in an appam pan.
Recipe
Sorakaya Snack | Bottle Gourd Fries
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1 cup Bottle Gourd
- 1/2 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
- 2 - 3 tbsp Wheat Flour
- 2 - 3 tbsp All Purpose Flour
- 1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
- 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
- Salt to taste
For Outer layer
- 1 tbsp All Purpose Flour
- Salt to taste
For Topping
- 1/2 cup Onions
For Sauté
- 1/2 cup Onions
- 1/2 cup Tomato
- 1 Green Chillies
- Curry Leaves handful
- Coriander Leaves for garnish
- Cooking Oil for deep frying
Instructions
For the Dough
- Wash, peel and grate the Bottle Gourd. Take the grated bottle gourd in a bowl and mix all the ingredients listed under for the dough. Mix well without adding water. Since bottle gourd has some water you will be able to get a stiff dough, if required sprinkle water. Please remember the dough has to be stiff.
Making the Rolls
- Using a rolling pin, roll the dough as a regular chapati. Spread the finely chopped onions on top. Tightly roll inward to cover the entire onion layer. Finally, you will get a rolled dough. Cut it into 2" circles each.
Frying the Rolls
- Make a thin batter of maida for dipping. Then dip each roll in the Maida batter, the batter is to be really thin.
- Heat a pan with oil. Fry the rolls in batches and drain them on a kitchen towel.
For the Saute
- Meanwhile, heat another pan with 1 tsp oil, sauté curry leaves, finely chopped green chillies, chopped onions, then finally the tomatoes. Add salt and let the tomatoes get soft. Then toss the fried bottle gourd pieces and let it get covered well. Garnish with coriander leaves.
Notes
- Makes a great snack for kids as I saw that Konda didn't even ask what it was but eat few.
- Of course, the frying part can be avoided if you want to microwave it or do it in an appam pan.
RAKS KITCHEN says
Oh my oh my! That was fun guessing though i guessed it wrong srivalli;)
Aparna says
I would have never guessed this! Fried Bottle Gourd!!
Heard about that play and that it was good.
kamalagk says
This is totally new Valli..I have bookmarked this.Nandu would surely like this.
Mandira says
wow sri, this is such a great idea! can't wait to try it.
Divya Vikram says
No way I could think it was made of bottlegourd..
Priya says
Those who guessed sure have a 3rd eye! I would never have thought of sorakaya :)) This method is so different from the regular bhajji/pakoda recipes.
Sharmila says
That is really innovative! Bottle gourd?!!No words at all. 🙂
Divya says
Oh boy! Fried stuff... hmmm
Looks great. I wish someone would make it for me... I am pretty lazy today.
ANJALI J. says
lovely evening snack.. will try that soon.
Jayashree says
Valli, you've made my day. Iam so awful at guessing games....this is the first time I've got something right. BTW, it looks really delish.
Alka says
ok so almost all of us made fool of ourselves ....how cud we guess it...its just a perfect disguise.....
The recipe is really interesting and anything that make bottle gourd spicy gets a thumbs up from me
Thanks for sharing!
meeso says
Yup, my mind is simple... but these look delicious no matter what they are!
Tee says
Wow! I looked at it the other day and was so lost...it never even crossed my mind that it was bottle gourd 🙂 This must be tasting really good...will try it out soon.
Shillu says
awesome! never thought you could make such a yummy dish using bottle gourd!
SMN says
Hey Valli very innovative never thought will make something like this. nice way to eat this veggie 🙂
Srivalli says
I am glad everybody liked it..:)
Jayashree..you are welcome!
Bhawana says
🙂 this is really too good. I guessed it idli :)). but have to say that this is very tasty looking recipe 🙂
Mrs.Kannan says
wawii,is it bottle gourd,i have no idea even how it looks like...anyways next time i am sure going to buy it and fry it..it looks yummyyyyyyiiiii