Malai Kofta

This dish comes for special occassions, Malai ( Cream) Kofta; it has the richness of cream and dry fruits and lots of aromatic flavours. First time when i tried this , it was a total mess. I don't know, i think the potatoes were some new ones(for that season, as i remember told by my mom ..or were they old ?? ). Anyways, the result was the potatoes were too sticky and even after dipping my hands in oil, i wasn't able to make balls out of it. Somehow with the help of my mom ,with the tips given at last, finally balls were made and i was able to make delicious Kofta's.
These koftas are served in a creamy gravy (which i got correct without her help). Malai Kofta is served best with Naan (tandoor-baked flatbread), kulcha's or Jeera rice.

Ingredients:

For koftas:

250 gms(4 large) boiled potatoes
50 gms paneer mashed
50 gms Khoya(thickned milk, optional)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (almonds,raisins and cashewnuts)
1 tsp garam masala powder
Salt to taste
Oil to deep fry the koftas

For the sauce:

3 tbsps cooking oil
2 large onions grated
1 tomato pureed
2 tbsps garlic garlic paste
2 tsps coriander powder
2 tsp kashmiri red chilli powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp garam masala powder
1 cup milk(approx)
1 tbsp khoya
1 tbsp fresh curd
Salt to taste
Fresh cream to garnish

Method:

Grate the potatoes(so as there's no lumps and its even thoroughly). Season with salt.
Mix all the other ingredients separately for koftas, add salt to taste and make small small balls out of it.
Shape the potato mixture like a bowl and put the paneer mix balls in the center and then roll into perfect rounds.
Heat the oil to fry the koftas, on a medium flame. Deep fry these rounds till light golden brown in colour.
Drain on paper towels and keep aside.
If the potatoes are sticky, and are not manageble, add a bit of cornflour in the mix, or can coat it with cornflour paste and then fry. More tips in the end.

For the gravy, first heat the 3 tbsps of oil in a deep pan and add ginger garlic paste to it.
Then fry the onions till it is light brown in color and the oil begins to separate from the onions.
Then first add red chilli powder and then all other dry spices and then immediately add tomato puree to it. Fry till oil separates.
Add khoya ,a bit of salt and curd. Fry .
Then add milk slowly and water to get a desired thick consistency (not too thin), and cook. Mix well.
Bring the gravy to a boil and then reduce the fire to a simmer.

Serving:
At the time of serving, place the kofta's in the dish, and pour hot gravy over it. And then garnish each kofta's with the whipped cream and serve.
Serve with hot Naans ,Kulcha's or Jeera Rice.

Tips:

Instead of directly pureeing the tomatoes you can blanch them first in hot water and then puree, it gives better taste n color too.
If potatoes are sticky still, you can add a bread slice (edges removed), or even soaked pooha(rice flakes) to it.
If you don't have khoya, use Ricotta cheese.Just bake the same in Microwave,the cheese will crumble and can be substituted for khoya.
And most important DO NOT add kofta's in the gravy beforehand. The balls will absorb lots of gravy and will be tooo soft, to pour.Can see my gravy is looking thin a bit in snap, but eventually it got thicker.

Also, there's some flowers, Rose, that i tried making with apple's peel. Did u liked them???
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Sending this Malai Kofta to RCI: Lucknow started by Lakshmi

Posted by Neha

Labels: curry, potato