Malai Kofta
August 12th, 2008 filed under Gravy / Sauces, Paneer (Indian Cheese)
Malai kofta is a delicious and rich main dish for any special occasion.
Recipe serves 4 to 6.
Ingredients:
- Kofta:
- 1 cup boiled mash potatoes
- 1 cup mash paneer
- 2 tablespoon minced cilantro (hara dhania)
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seed (jeera)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 small finally chopped green chili
For Batter:
- 2 tablespoon all purpose flour (maida, plain flour)
- 4 tablespoon water
Also needed:
- Oil to fry
- Gravy:
- 2 tablespoon oil
- Generous pinch asafetida (hing)
- 1 teaspoon cumin seed (jeera)
- 2 medium tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon shredded ginger (adrak)
- 1 green chili
- 1 tablespoon coriander powder (dhania)
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric (haldi)
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon all purpose flour (maida, plain flour)
- 1/4 cup cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon garam masala
- 2 tablespoon minced cilantro (hara dhania)
Method
Kofta
- Mix all the ingredients together for kofta,
- With oiled hands, divide the mixture into 14 to 16 equal parts.
- Make them in round balls.
- Mix flour with about 4 tablespoons of water and mix well until batter is smooth.
- Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium high heat.
- The frying pan should have at least 1 1/2 inch of oil. To check if the oil is ready, just put one small piece of mix in the oil, it should come up right away but not change color.
- Dip the paneer balls in the batter one at a time and slowly drop into the frying pan.
- Turn them occasionally. Fry koftas until golden-brown all around.
Gravy:
- Blend the tomatoes, green chilies and ginger to make a puree. If you prefer mild take the seeds out of green chili before blending.
- Mix cream and flour and keep aside.
- Heat the oil in a saucepan. Test the heat by adding one cumin seed to the oil; if it cracks right away oil is ready.
- Add the hing and cumin seeds.
- Add the tomato puree, coriander powder, turmeric, red chili powder and cook for about 4 minutes on medium heat.
- Tomato mixture will start leaving the oil and will reduce to about half in quantity.
- Add milk and flour mix, salt and one cup of water and let it cook covered for 7 to 8 minutes on medium heat.
- Add the garam masala, salt and cilantro. Let it cook for another minute.
- Add koftas as soon it comes to boil turn off the heat. Note: koftas will expand to about 11/2 times, if you like more gravy this is the time to add some more boiled water and adjust salt.
- Koftas are very soft they should be added to the gravy when you are ready to serve, otherwise koftas will break.
[...] of food and I enjoy trying out new recipes. Manjula aunty’s recipes are my favorite. I love the Malai Kofta recipe the most and I recommend all my friends to try her recipes. It comes out really well and [...]
we do not have paneer in CAIRO
Hello,
I live in Cairo too, and have managed to substitute some ingredients. I found a recipe for homemade Paneer and all it needs is lemon juice and milk. It works out fine and I made Rasgullas and also Paneer Makhni. My family appreciated both dishes and it was not hard at all to make.
All the best.
It’s easy to make your own paneer at home. Check the recipes on this site and you will find it. The store bought paneer is too firm to use for kofta anyhow.
hi,
can we make koftas out of gulab jamun mix?
Prianka, the gulab jamun mix is sweet and usually has soda bicarb or similar ingredient to make it puff when frying. I doubt it will work for a kofta, but you can always try just for curiosity.
it really worked for me
Hi,
I am trying this recipe now, but as soon as i am putting balls for frying they start breaking. Please let me know the reason & what can i do now.
Please reply soon as i am going to have guests tomorrow.
thnx
You could try adding a spoon of corn flour to the vegetables before making them into balls for the kofta.
omg i love this thing
Hi manjulaji,
Thank you so much for your wonderful recipes.
is it possible to make the koftas ahead of time and keep them in the fridge for two days then fry them and put them in the gravy.
hi
thax for all ur dishes. i want to make gheya(loki)kofta.could u plz help me.
Hello Gagan,
Check the recipe for CABBAGE KOFTA, the only change you need to make squeeze the gheya after shredding.
Hi Manjulaji
Thanks for your reply.I tried in American grocery.When i asked for cream, they showed me half& half.Is half&half and your cream same?Please let me know
thanks
neeharika
Hi Manjulaji
My name is Neeharika.One of my friend told about your blog.I tried 3- 4 recipes from your blog.They turned out very tasty.I am a south indian.My husband likes north indian recipes.So i regularly visit your site for recipes.
I want to try Malai kofta.I have one doubt regarding ingredients.What is cream?Where can i get cream, indian or american grocery?
Hi Neeharika,
American grocery store, next to milk.
Hi,
I want to know is whipped cream from American store okay for this recipe.
thanks
I think she means heavy cream or whipping cream that come in small cartons in dairy section. Have used that for Indian curry type recipes that have a cream base. Never tried whipped cream though, which I think is in the frozen section.