Buthi Kyaw (Burmese Gourd Fritters)
Local name: ဗူးသီးကြော်
In short: Sticks of bottle gourd in a crisp rice and chickpea flour batter, deep-fried until golden and served with a sweet-sour tamarind chili dip. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 10 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 280 kcal
Buthi kyaw are long, crunchy fritters sold at Burmese tea shops and street stalls, made from bottle gourd cut into sticks and coated in a light batter. The mix of rice flour and chickpea flour makes a coating that stays crisp long after frying, while the gourd inside turns soft and slightly sweet. They come with a tangy tamarind and chili dip. Zucchini works well if you cannot find bottle gourd.
Instructions
- Peel the gourd, scoop out any large seeds and cut it into sticks about 7 cm (3 in) long and 1 cm (1/2 in) thick. Toss with 1/2 teaspoon salt in a colander and leave for 10 minutes, then pat dry.
- Whisk the rice flour, chickpea flour, baking powder, salt and turmeric with the cold water into a thick batter, like pancake batter. Rest for 10 minutes.
- For the dip, simmer the tamarind, sugar, chili flakes, garlic, water and salt for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly syrupy. Cool.
- Heat the oil in a deep pan to 180°C (350°F). A drop of batter should sizzle and rise at once.
- Dip the gourd sticks in the batter, let the excess drip off and lower 6 to 8 sticks into the oil. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes, turning once, until pale gold and crisp.
- Lift out onto a wire rack, not paper towels, so the underside stays crisp. Fry the remaining sticks in batches and serve hot with the dip.
Tips
- Bottle gourd is also sold as lauki, dudhi or opo at Asian and Indian shops. If using zucchini, salt and drain it for the full 10 minutes, because it holds more water.
- Do not crowd the pan. Too many sticks cool the oil and give soggy fritters. Keep the oil close to 180°C (350°F).
Questions and answers
What is a bottle gourd?
It is a pale green gourd with mild, slightly sweet flesh, also called lauki, dudhi or opo. It is sold at Asian and Indian grocery stores.
Why are my fritters soggy?
The oil was probably too cool or the pan too full. Keep the oil near 180°C (350°F), fry in small batches and drain on a wire rack.
Can I air-fry buthi kyaw?
Yes. Spray the battered sticks well with oil and cook at 200°C (400°F) for about 12 minutes, turning once. The coating will be less crisp than deep-fried.
How long does it take to make Buthi Kyaw (Burmese Gourd Fritters)?
About 45 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Buthi Kyaw (Burmese Gourd Fritters)?
About 280 kcal per serving, with 7 g of protein, 30 g of carbohydrates and 15 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 280 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 30 g |
| Fat | 15 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 640 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
