Recipe for North Indian style Malai Kofta

 


 

Malai Kofta is one of the popular vegetarian main course curries made with potato, dry fruits and onion-tomato gravy. Addition of cream and dry fruits makes it smooth, creamy and rich with mild spices. It is best enjoyed with Indian breads, be it naan, rumali / tandoori roti, parantha or phulka.

 
 
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Serves: 4

 
Ingredients
 
Measuring cup used, 1 cup = 250 ml

For Koftas
◦ Potato – 1 cup boiled, peeled and mashed
◦ Paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese) – 100 grams, grated or crumbled
◦ Corn flour or cornstarch – 3 tablespoons
◦ Garam masala – ½ teaspoon
◦ Cashews – 1 tablespoon, roughly chopped
◦ Raisins – 1 tablespoon
◦ Salt as per Taste

For Gravy
◦ Oil – 1 tablespoon
◦ Bay leaf – 1
◦ Cinnamon stick – ¼ inch piece
◦ Cloves – 2-3
◦ Green cardamom – 2
◦ Salt – to taste
◦ Red chili powder – 1 teaspoon
◦ Coriander powder – 1 teaspoon
◦ Garam masala – ½ teaspoon
◦ Kasoori methi (Dried fenugreek leaves) – 1 teaspoon, lightly crushed between your palm
◦ Heavy cream – ¼ cup
◦ Onion – 1 cup roughly chopped
◦ Ginger – ½ inch piece
◦ Garlic – 2 cloves
◦ Tomatoes – 2 cup roughly chopped
◦ Cashew nuts – 5-6, soaked in water for half an hour
 

For Garnish
◦ Cream (optional)
◦ Chopped coriander leaves
 

Method

Step 1
First, we will make onion-tomato paste. Boil onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, cashew nuts with little bit of water. Once boiled, cool and blend these together into a lump-free smooth paste.
 
Step 2
 
Heat the oil and butter in a Indian wok. Add bay leaf, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon stick. Cook on medium heat for few seconds, stirring occasionally.
 
Step 3
Add the paste prepared earlier and add salt. Stir occasionally.
 
Step 4
Once the gravy thickens, add red chili powder, coriander powder and garam masala.

Step 5
Add little water and let the gravy cook on low heat for 5 minutes

Step 6
Add crushed kasoori methi. Cover the wok and keep it aside.

Step 7
Put grated paneer, boiled, mashed potatoes, corn flour, garam masala, cashews, raisins and salt in a bowl.

Step 8
To make koftas, Knead into a dough. Make 11-12 balls out of this dough.

Step 9
Heat oil on medium heat in an Indian wok. Deep fry the balls till they become golden-brown in colour.

Step 10
Reheat gravy, add cream. Once cream mixes well in gravy, dip all of the koftas in the gravy. 

Step 11
Garnish the malai kofta with cream and coriander leaves

Step 12
Serve immediately else later koftas would get soggy.