Recipe- Celebrate During Summer With Homemade Malai Kofta

Malai Kofta needs no introduction. Deep fried balls (koftas) made with potato and paneer are dunked in a creamy spiced velvety smooth curry. It’s the ultimate indulgence and pairs beautifully with garlic naan.Malai Kofta is a very popular Indian vegetarian dish where balls (kofta) made of potato and paneer are deep fried and served with a creamy and spiced tomato based curry.Strain the puree using a strainer so that the gravy is silky smooth, once the onion, tomatoes and whole spices are cooked, you have to grind them to a paste.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon oil 15 ml, I used avocado oil
1 bay leaf
1 inch cinnamon stick
4 whole green cardamoms slightly crushed
3 cloves
1 teaspoon shahi jeera caraway seeds
6-7 large garlic cloves 22 grams, roughly chopped
1.5 inch ginger 16 grams, roughly chopped
1 green chili chopped
1 large yellow onion 190 grams, chopped
2 large tomatoes 390 grams, chopped
12 cashews whole and raw
2 cups water 16 oz
2 tablespoons butter 28 grams
1 teaspoon oil 5 ml
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1/4 teaspoon kashmiri red chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
1 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon garam masala or more to taste
2 teaspoons crushed kasuri methi dried fenugreek leaves
3 tablespoons heavy cream 45 ml
pinch cardamom powder
cilantro to garnish
1 cup mashed & boiled potatoes
1 cup grated paneer
1 tablespoons finely chopped ginger
1.5 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 green chili chopped
1 tablespoon chopped cashews
1 tablespoon chopped raisins golden raisins
1.5 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper powder
1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
oil for frying, I used sunflower oil

Method

* Heat a pot/pan on medium heat. Once hot, add 1 tablespoon oil and then add the bay leaf, cinnamon, green cardamom, cloves and shahi jeera.

* Let the spices sizzle for few seconds and then add the chopped garlic, ginger, green chili and onion.
Saute for around 2 minutes, do not brown the onion.

* Then add the tomatoes along with cashews and 2 cups of water and stir.

* Cover the pot with a lid and cook for around 10 to 12 minutes until tomatoes soften.

* Let it cool down down a bit (around 15 minutes, if you blend it while it's hot it might blow off from the blender), then discard the bay leaf and transfer mixture to a blender.

* Blend to a smooth paste. Use a strainer and strain the puree into another bowl. This makes sure the gravy is really smooth.

* Put the same pan on medium heat again. Once hot, add 2 tablespoons unsalted butter and 1 teaspoon oil. Let the butter melt.

* Add in the pureed gravy and cook for 2 minutes. Then add the coriander powder, kashmiri red chili powder, salt, sugar and garam masala.

* Let the curry cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

* Add crushed kasuri methi and then cream. Cook for additional 2 to 3 minutes on medium-low heat.

* Sprinkle some cardamom powder on top. The gravy is now done. Set aside and make kofta.

For Kofta

* Boil the potatoes using a pressure cooker, 8-9 whistles on a stove-top pressure cooker. You can do this on the side while making the gravy.

* Once the potatoes are boiled, let them cool a bit then peel and mash them.

* To a large bowl, now add all ingredients for kofta- boiled and mashed potatoes, grated paneer, finely chopped ginger, cilantro, green chili, cashews, raisins, cornstarch, salt, white pepper powder and 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder.

* Mix everything together with your hands to form a dough. Start making koftas from the dough. Take some part of the dough and roll between your palms to make it round.

* Similarly makes all the koftas. I made 9 koftas, each around 40 to 42 grams.

* Heat enough oil to fry in a kadai on medium-high heat. Make sure oil is hot, else koftas can stick to the pan and also disintegrate in the oil.

* Drop koftas in hot oil and fry until golden brown from both sides. Remove the fried koftas on a paper towel. You can also shallow fry them, just press the koftas and flatten them like a burger tikki and shallow fry.

* To serve place koftas on plate and top with the gravy. Garnish with cream and cilantro. Or you can also place the gravy first on the serving plate, drizzle with cream and place koftas on top.

* If you like melt in mouth koftas, it's also a good idea to let the koftas simmer in the gravy for 2 minutes before serving.

* If you prefer the koftas to be on the crispier side, then add gravy on top only before serving.