Malai Kofta

மலாய் கொஃப்தா (Malai Kofta)

Malai kofta is a North Indian vegetarian gravy. Kofta is a combination of potato and paneer mixture, fried in oil. This is a very rich gravy prepared with milk cream and cashews.
Malai Kofta is one of the best combination for Chapathi and Naan. This is my favorite recipe, I always use homemade paneer because that gives good taste.

Ingredients for Malai Kofta

Kofta

Milk – 2.5 cups or grated paneer – 1/2 cup
Potato – 2 medium size
Green chilli – 1
Cumin powder – 1 tsp
Cashews – 1 tbs
All purpose flour – 1.5 tbs
Cilantro – 1 tbs
Lemon juice – 1 tbs(for homemade paneer)
Salt as needed
Oil for frying

Grinding Ingredients

Onion – 1 (chopped)
Tomato – 4 (chopped)
Ginger garlic paste – 1 tbs
Oil – 1 tbs
Cashews – 2 tbs

Gravy

Heavy cream – 1/2 cup
Butter – 1 tbs
Oil – 1 tbs
Bay leaf – 1
Cardamom – 2
Clove – 2
Garam masala – 1 tsp
Red chilli powder – 1 tbs
Kasturi Methi – 1 tsp
Cinnamon – 1 small piece
Coriander powder – 1 tsp
Cumin powder – 1 tsp
Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
Salt as needed

Directions

Prepare Kofta

Boil milk and switch off the flame when milk raises.
Pour the lemon juice and filter the milk cheese (paneer).
Boil the potato, remove the skin and mash that.
Add the mashed potato and paneer in a mixing bowl.
Also add all the other kofta ingredients in the mixing bowl.
Knead everything well and make small balls.
Heat oil in a frying pan and fry the kofta balls in medium flame.
Fry the balls until golden brown.

Grinding

Heat oil in a pan then add chopped onion and ginger garlic paste.
Sauté them until onion turns golden brown then add chopped tomatoes.
Now sauté tomato until mushy then add cashews and mix well.
Let the sautéd ingredients cool down completely.
Grind into fine paste in a mixie jar.

Prepare Gravy

Heat butter and oil in a pan and keep the flame low.
Add bay leaf, clove, cardamom, cinnamon and cumin seeds then sauté.
Now add garam masala, turmeric, chilli powder, cumin powder, coriander powder and salt.
Mix everything well and pour the ground paste.
Cover the pan and cook the gravy for 5 minutes.
Crush the Kasturi Methi and drizzle in the gravy.
Pour the heavy cream and mix well.
Switch off the flame and add all the fried kofta balls.
Mix all the balls coated with gravy gently.
Malai kofta ready.
Serve the gravy with Chappathi/ Naan.