Malai Kofta | Vegetarian Potato and Cottage Cheese Balls with Gravy

As the name suggests Malai kofta is a delicious and rich Indian main dish for special occasions.  Malai Kofta is prepared with spicy thick curry with lots of cashew and raisins. If you host a feast, do not forget to make Malai Kofta at home. 

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

1. Mix all the ingredients together for kofta,
2. With oiled hands, divide the mixture into 14 to 16 equal parts.
3. Make them in round balls.
4. Mix flour with about 4 tablespoons of water and mix well until batter is smooth.
5. Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium high heat.
6. 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.
7. Dip the paneer balls in the batter one at a time and slowly drop into the frying pan.
8. Turn them occasionally. Fry koftas until golden-brown all around.

Gravy:

1. Blend the tomatoes, green chilies and ginger to make a puree. If you prefer mild take the seeds out of green chili before blending.
2. Mix cream and flour and keep aside.
3. 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.
4. Add the hing and cumin seeds.
5. Add the tomato puree, coriander powder, turmeric, red chili powder and cook for about 4 minutes on medium heat.
6. Tomato mixture will start leaving the oil and will reduce to about half in quantity.
7. Add milk and flour mix, salt and one cup of water and let it cook covered for 7 to 8 minutes on medium heat.
8. Add the garam masala, salt and cilantro. Let it cook for another minute.
9. 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.
10. Koftas are very soft they should be added to the gravy when you are ready to serve, otherwise koftas will break.