Dudhi (lauki, bottle gourd)

Lauki, or Dudhi, is one of the most used vegetables in Indian cuisine. It is a summer squash with a soft, fleshy texture. It has a mild taste that readily takes on the flavor of surrounding spices and gravy. Although the raw vegetables are very different, zucchini is a great substitute for dudhi in shaak and other dishes. These two squashes have very similar flavors and textures when cooked. Some dishes that often feature dudhi are Dudhi chana nu shaak, Lauki ki subzi, Handvo and Dangela.