malai kofta recipe | malai kofta curry | creamy kofta balls curry with detailed photo and video recipe. an extremely popular and tasty north indian creamy curry recipe made with aloo and paneer balls in onion and tomato sauce. it is one of the creamiest curry recipe from the north indian cuisine bucket and loaded with malai or cooking cream. you may either serve this recipe with choice of indian flatbreads or perhaps with choice of flavoured rice.
kofta based recipes are very common in indian cuisine and are often used in myriad types of indian recipes. moreover the traditional kofta’s are made out of mixed minced meat which is either tossed into any curry sauce base or to any rice variation. however, to satisfy the vegetarian or non-meat eaters, there are some vegetable or paneer based alternatives. in this recipe post of malai kofta recipe, i have used the aloo and paneer mixture to make and mimic the kofta balls. the texture and shape is very similar to any meat-based alternative but have the goodness and taste of creamy paneer in it. you may use any other vegetable with aloo and paneer and you should have the same taste and warmth in it.
anyway, before wrapping up the recipe, i would like to include some tips, suggestions and variation to malai kofta recipe. firstly, i would heavily recommend to use a fresh and moist paneer for preparing the kofta balls. also with aloo, it has to be well boiled and mashed so that it is easy to shape and also deep fry. secondly, because we are using paneer and potatoes, to form the kofta, it is essential to deep fry these in a low to medium flame. also while you are deep frying these, do not overcrowd and give sufficient space to each kofta balls. lastly, you can immerse these kofta balls in the curry for a minimum of 30-45 minutes before it is served. so that the kofta will absorb the curry and become tender.
finally, i request you to check my other detailed curry recipes collection with this post of malai kofta recipe. it mainly includes my other detailed curry recipes like chana masala, reshmi paneer, dosa kurma, lauki ki sabji, bendekai gojju, aloo bhindi, kaju paneer masala, white kurma, shahi paneer, beans ki sabji. further to these i would also like to mention my other recipe categories like,
malai kofta video recipe:
recipe card for malai kofta curry recipe:
malai kofta recipe | malai kofta curry | creamy kofta balls curry
Ingredients
for kofta:
- 3 potato / aloo, boiled & mashed
- ¾ cup paneer / cottage cheese, grated
- 1 chilli, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp coriander, finely chopped
- ¼ tsp cumin powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp raisins
- 2 tbsp cashew / kaju, chopped
- 2 tbsp maida / plain flour
- oil, for frying
for onion tomato puree:
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
- 2 tomato, sliced
- 2 tbsp cashew / kaju
for curry:
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp cumin / jeera
- 2 pod cardamom
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 inch cinnamon
- 2 clove
- 1 tsp kashmiri red chilli powder
- ½ tsp turmeric
- ¾ tsp coriander powder
- ¼ tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ cup cream / malai
- ½ cup water
- 1 tsp kasuri methi, crushed
- ¼ tsp garam masala
Instructions
kofta preparation:
- firstly, in a large mixing bowl take 3 potato and ¾ cup paneer.
- also add 1 chilli, 2 tbsp coriander, ¼ tsp cumin powder and ½ tsp salt.
- add 2 tbsp raisins and 2 tbsp cashew to have crunchy bite in kofta.
- mix well making sure all the spices are well combined
- now add 2 tbsp maida and mix well forming a soft dough. maida helps to absorb moisture and bind the mixture well.
- prepare a small ball sized kofta by greasing hand with oil.
- deep fry on medium hot oil.
- stir occasionally, making sure the koftas are cooked uniformly.
- fry until the kofta turn golden brown and crisp.
- drain off the koftas and keep aside.
curry preparation for malia kofta:
- firstly, in a pan heat 2 tbsp oil and saute 1 onion, 1 tsp ginger garlic paste.
- saute until onions changes colour slightly.
- further add 2 tomato and saute slightly.
- now add 2 tbsp cashew and continue to saute until tomatoes soften completely.
- cool completely and transfer to a blender.
- blend to smooth paste adding water if required.
- now filter the mixture to get rid of skin and seeds.
- filter until silky smooth onion-tomato puree is attained. keep aside.
- in a large kadai heat 1 tbsp butter and 2 tbsp oil.
- saute 1 tsp cumin, 2 pod cardamom, 1 bay leaf, 1 inch cinnamon, 2 clove until it turns aromatic.
- further keeping the flame on low, add 1 tsp chilli powder, ½ tsp turmeric, ¾ tsp coriander powder and ¼ tsp cumin powder.
- saute until the spices turn aromatic.
- further add in the prepared onion tomato puree, 1 tsp salt and mix well.
- cover and cook until the mixture starts to thicken and oil separates from sides.
- now add ¼ cup cream and mix on low flame until it's well combined.
- further, add ½ cup water and mix well adjusting consistency as required.
- get the curry to a boil, add 1 tsp kasuri methi and ¼ tsp garam masala. mix well.
- finally, pour the curry over kofta and malai kofta is ready to enjoy.
how to make malai kofta with step by step photo:
kofta preparation:
- firstly, in a large mixing bowl take 3 potato and ¾ cup paneer.
- also add 1 chilli, 2 tbsp coriander, ¼ tsp cumin powder and ½ tsp salt.
- add 2 tbsp raisins and 2 tbsp cashew to have crunchy bite in kofta.
- mix well making sure all the spices are well combined.
- now add 2 tbsp maida and mix well forming a soft dough. maida helps to absorb moisture and bind the mixture well.
- prepare a small ball sized kofta by greasing hand with oil.
- deep fry on medium hot oil.
- stir occasionally, making sure the koftas are cooked uniformly.
- fry until the kofta turn golden brown and crisp.
- drain off the koftas and keep aside.
curry preparation for malia kofta:
- firstly, in a pan heat 2 tbsp oil and saute 1 onion, 1 tsp ginger garlic paste.
- saute until onions changes colour slightly.
- further add 2 tomato and saute slightly.
- now add 2 tbsp cashew and continue to saute until tomatoes soften completely.
- cool completely and transfer to a blender.
- blend to smooth paste adding water if required.
- now filter the mixture to get rid of skin and seeds.
- filter until silky smooth onion-tomato puree is attained. keep aside.
- in a large kadai heat 1 tbsp butter and 2 tbsp oil.
- saute 1 tsp cumin, 2 pod cardamom, 1 bay leaf, 1 inch cinnamon, 2 clove until it turns aromatic.
- further keeping the flame on low, add 1 tsp chilli powder, ½ tsp turmeric, ¾ tsp coriander powder and ¼ tsp cumin powder.
- saute until the spices turn aromatic.
- further add in the prepared onion tomato puree, 1 tsp salt and mix well.
- cover and cook until the mixture starts to thicken and oil separates from sides.
- now add ¼ cup cream and mix on low flame until it’s well combined.
- further, add ½ cup water and mix well adjusting consistency as required.
- get the curry to a boil, add 1 tsp kasuri methi and ¼ tsp garam masala. mix well.
- finally, pour the curry over kofta and malai kofta is ready to enjoy.
notes:
- firstly, add the curry over kofta just before serving to prevent kofta from turning soggy.
- also, adding cream makes curry rich and creamy.
- additionally, adding cashew and raisins in kofta will make kofta rich.
- finally, malai kofta recipe tastes great when prepared creamy and not spicy.