Mughlai Cuisine - Malai Kofta (Veggie Balls with cream)

 

image credit

Hello readers,

     Today I'm going to share with you an authentic Mughlai cuisine"Malai Kofta"( veggie balls with cream). This is a North Indian specialty,originated from Mughlai cuisine and now this recipe is very popular in many restaurants around the world. So let's start!

Ingredients:-

For making Koftas (veggie balls)-

1. Potatoes-3 cups( peeled and diced).

2. Mixed vegetables( carrots,peas,sweet corn)- 2 cups( boiled).

3. Cottage cheese (paneer)-1-1/2 cup(crumbled).

4. Milk powder-1 tbsp.

5. Corn flour- 3tbsp.

6. Chopped nuts- 1cup(almonds, walnuts, cashew nuts, raisins).

7. Cumin powder-1-1/2 tsp.

8. Coriander powder- 1-1/2 tsp.

9. Red chili powder-1 tsp.

10.salt- To taste.

11. Vegetable oil- As required (for deep frying Koftas).

For Kofta Gravy:- 

1. Vegetable oil-3 tbsp.

2. Butter-2 tbsp.

3. Large onion- 3( thickly sliced).

4. Tomatoes-3 ( quartered).

5. Garlic paste- 2 tbsp.

6. Ginger paste-2-1/2 tbsp.

7. Coriander powder-3 tsp.

8. Cumin powder- 1-1/2 tsp.

9. Red chili powder-1 tsp.

10. Lightly roasted poppy seeds- 1-1/2 tsp(ground into a thick paste).

11. Fenugreek leaves-1-1/2 tsp.

12. Garam masala powder- 2 tsp.

13. Salt- To taste.

14.  Heavy cream- 3 tbsp.

15. Water - 2 cups.

For Garnishing:-

1. Coriander leaves- 2 tbsp(finely chopped).

Preparation Method:-

For Koftas-

Step 1- Wash dice potatoes and boil them until fork tender,drain water,set aside.

Step 2- Take a large bowl, add boil potatoes with boiled mixed vegetables and mash them well with paneer(cottage cheese), milk powder.

Step 3- Now add all Kofta spices (cumin Powder, coriander powder, red chilli powder) salt and combine all spices well with mash veggies.

Step 4- Once all spices combined well add cornflour with it and mixed it well with mashed vegetables,make a dough with it and Set aside.

Step 5- Take another bowl and combine chopped nuts and raisins.

Step 6- Wet your palm with oil, take a small part of the dough and put 1/2 tsp of nut mixture in the center of the each small dough and roll the dough into perfect round to form a ball. Follow the same process for the remaining dough.

Step 7- Take a deep frying pan, heat large amount of vegetable oil over medium flame, once oil will became hot, deep fry the balls till pale golden color.

Step 8- Once balls will became pale golden take out them from oil and drain oil on paper towels and set aside.

Kofta Gravy:-

Step 1-Take a large skillet and heat vegetable oil on medium flame, now add onion slices and fry them till golden brown,turn off gas oven and take out fried onions,keep the remaining oil in the skillet.

 Step 2- In a food grinder place the fried onions, tomatoes,ginger paste,garlic paste, coriander powder,cumin powder,red chili powder and grind into paste.(can add little water if required).

Step 3- Now return the skillet on the medium flame, once remaining oil will became hot add butter into it and transfer the paste (step-2) from the grinder into the skillet.

Step 4- Fry this paste till the oil begins to separate from the spices. Now add poppy seeds paste with it and combine well. Fry for another 2-3 minutes.

Step 5- Now add 2 cups of warm water to form a gravy, add fenugreek leaves and salt to taste, bring the gravy to boil and reduce fire to simmer. (the gravy for this dish is meant to be thick so don't add too much water). Do not cover the skillet.

Step 6- Once gravy will become thick add garam masala powder and 2 tbsp of heavy cream into it and cover the skillet cook for another 2 minutes in simmer. Turn off the gas oven.

Step 7- Now add Koftas into the gravy and with the help of a spoon spread gravy over the koftas, do not cook Koftas into the the gravy else they will be broken.Cover the skillet for 5-7 minutes.

Step 8- Garnish Koftas with remaining 1 tbsp of heavy cream and finely chopped coriander leaves, it's ready to serve with 'Naan' or 'Cumin Rice'.

** Always add Koftas into the gravy few minutes before serving.