It is after ages I am participating in the South-vs-North (SNC) Challenge. It is not that I have not been wanting to, I really wanted to participate. But of late, most of the challenge recipes were sweets. Even though I bake quite a lot of cakes and cookies, Indian sweets really scare me from trying. The amount of ghee, sugar syrup and all the calories that go into making it gives me a mini heart attack while reading the recipe itself!!! This time, the challenge for the Southern team was a gravy, a dish I have been wanting to make for long, so how could I ignore it?
When Nupur of UK Rasoi posted the Malai Kofta as the challenge, I was really excited. I prepared it the same day for dinner and relished it like anything. Even the men in the house, really loved it. Despite it being vegetarian, the curry is so rich that you may have to consider fasting the next day to waive off the calories!!! Anyway, indulgence once in a while is permitted, right? 😉 Thank you so much Nupur, for tempting me to make this… Recipe adapted from here
Linking it to Nupur’s space…
Malai Kofta - Paneer Dumplings in Rich Gravy
Servings 4
Ingredients
- FOR KOFTA:
- 100 gm paneer crumbled
- 2 meduim potatoes boiled and mashed
- 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tbsp corn flour
- 1 tbsp milk powder
- Salt to taste
- Oil for frying
- FOR GRAVY:
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 small pc cinnamon
- 1 cardamom
- 3 cloves
- 3 peppercorns
- 1 star anise
- 1 tsp ginger paste
- 1 tsp garlic paste
- 2 meduim onions sliced
- 1 sachet 80 gms tomato paste
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp chilli powder
- 1/4 tsp garam masala powder
- 1 cup water
- 100 gm fresh cream at room temperature
- 1 tsp kasuri methi
- Salt to taste
- Coriander leaves for garnishing
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients for the koftas apart from the oil in a bowl and mix well. Shape them into dumplings. I got 12 with the above measurements.
- Heat oil in a kadai (deep fry or shallow fry, totally upto you). Meanwhile keep 2 tbsp corn flour in a small plate. When the oil is heated, roll one dumpling in the corn flour, touch off the excess and put into oil.
- Fry all the sides till done. Repeat till all the dumplings are completed. Drain on kitchen towel and set aside.
- In a saucepan, heat oil. Fry all the whole masalas for a minute.
- Add the ginger and garlic paste and saute till the raw smell is gone.
- Now add the onions with a pinch of salt and cook till it becomes almost browned. Switch off the flame and allow to cool completely. Grind the onion with a little water to a smooth paste.
- Put back the onion paste into the saucepan along with the tomato paste and start to cook on low flame.
- Add in the masala powders and cook for around 7 minutes on low flame with closed lid and on high flame for around 3 minutes till the mixture gets cooked well. Keep stirring in between to ensure it doesn't get stuck to the pan. Add the water and continue to cook till the desired thickness is reached.
- Lower the flame, slowly add the fresh cream while continuously stirring to ensure that the gravy doesn't curdle. Cook for a further five minutes. Sprinkle in the kasuri methi and adjust the salt. Switch off.
- While serving, warm the curry slightly. Arrange the koftas on a platter and pour the curry on top. Sprinkle the coriander leaves on top and serve with roti, naan or rice! Delish!!!
Notes
I've used tomato paste instead of tomato puree in my curry. If using tomato puree, then use around 2 cups and cook till it thickens and is cooked.
You may add 1/4 cup cashew paste while adding water for extra richness. The cream was already scaring me, so I didn't want an additional scare by adding cashew paste! Nevertheless, the gravy was really rich.
You may add 1/4 cup cashew paste while adding water for extra richness. The cream was already scaring me, so I didn't want an additional scare by adding cashew paste! Nevertheless, the gravy was really rich.
delicious dear.parcel it soon
Thank you so much Ramya…
This looks deliciously yummy! I should try it out!
Thank you so much Reva… it's definitely worth the try…
Rich and finger licking mali kofta… yummy…
Thank you so much Priya…
Looks too good dear …yumm
Thank you so much Asha…
Rich, creamy koftas, Mouth watering koftas.
Thank you so much Lisha…
It require patience so I didn't try this but I am sure it will taste great…….you prepared it very well…enikku kothiyavunnu……….
Thank you so much Resna… do try dear, it's worth the time, but not difficult at all…
I am a paneer lover 😛 this malai kofta is so tempting; bringing naan 😛 send me some rafeada PASSS :* 😉
Thank you so much Monu… wish I could pass, but my bowl may break! 😛
Nice n rich gravy, I have never tried making this but have had these from outside……
Thank you so much Razina… do try dear, it's quite easy to make…
Droolworthy malai kofta. Delicious, creamy rice gravy.
Thank you so much Sanoli….
Wish I was living close to you and could taste this creamy rich gravy 🙂
Thank you so much Ambreen… 🙂
Drooling at the richness.. yumm yumm
Thank you so much Smitha…
love that gravy
Thank you so much Nammi…
Loved it dear 🙂
Thank you so much Ruxana… 🙂
Creamy rich gravy. Like the texture of this gravy.
Thank you so much Eliza…
Looks so tempting!
Thank you so much Dipti…
Mouthwatering creamy kofta !
Thank you so much Sony…
looks really yumm…prepared very well..
Thank you so much Gloria…
Nice preparation rafee yum koftas
Thank you so much Siree…
Nice one Rafee…love that gravy….can imagine the pleasure of having it with hot naan
Thank you so much Anupa…
This looks so delicious!!
Thank you so much Beulah…
oh,… once in a while its great to have gravies like this at home ..because we can eat as much we want …May be i can go fasting the next day of the gravy is finished the day before …
I did go fasting the next day to make up for that richness!!! Hehe… thanks a lot dear…
Tempting koftas in the creamy gravy.
Thank you so much Nava…
Malai Koftas are my favorite!! i love all the creaminess.
Thank you so much Pankthi…
IAm thinking to try this for long time but couldn't. U r tempting me seriously 🙂
U must try it, Chitra… thanks a lot… 🙂
lovely gravy.. 🙂 n tempting click diii… 🙂
Thank you so much Sangee… 🙂
Delicious presentation.. Looks super appetizing and feel like grabbing that bowl right away from the screen.. 🙂
Thank you so much Divya… 🙂
delicious recipe..
Thank you so much Kalpana…
Looks delicious Rafeeda! Seeing this first thing in the morning is making my stomach growl with hunger!
Thank you so much Priya…
very delicious and yummy koftas 🙂 tempting me !!
Thank you so much Manjula… 🙂
Awesome malai kofta curry.Wish koftas were available ready made so I could make the gravy and relish without much effort 🙂
Hey Meena, it's quite easy daa… just mix all and fry just like cutlets. only thing it takes some time, apart from that, there is not much effort… thanks a lot dear… 🙂
I know Rafeeda, even I avoid trying sweets for any challenge. Right now SNC is the only challenge I am participating in, other than that most of the challenges they do sweets and I also get a mini heart attack as you 😛
The curry looks awesome, glad you like it 🙂
I still make a lot of sweet stuff Nupur… but not Indian sweets, it kind of scares me with the amount of ghee and sugar! Atleast in cakes, you can look for substitutes and still feel nice to eat it! Hehe… thanks a lot dear… 🙂
Yummy yum
Thank you so much Fasee…