This malai kofta recipe is just like what you get at your favorite Indian restaurant but it’s made at home with a healthier option (no-fry kofta). Serve it with garlic naan or freshly cooked basmati rice to enjoy the meal.
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❤️About This Recipe
Malai = Heavy cream
Kofta = meatballs
Traditionally kofta curry is made from meat. But here I am sharing vegetarian malai kofta curry.
So, here koftas are made from grated paneer (cottage cheese), potatoes, nuts, and dried fruits. They are deep-fried into the oil.
But today we are taking a healthier route and making it a non-fry version of koftas. Here koftas are shallow fried in appe (paniyaram) pan without compromising the taste and texture.
Then they are added into smooth, rich Punjabi red gravy. This red gravy is made from onion, tomato, cashew nuts, Indian spices and heavy cream.
This restaurant style malai kofta is a rich dish. So it is made on special occasions or for special guests.
2 Variations of Malai Kofta:
- Punjabi version: Today’s recipe is North Indian style where it has orangy-red gravy.
- Mughalai version: It has mild, slightly sweet, aromatic white gravy.
🧾Ingredient Notes
Here is the pic of the kofta ingredients.
- Paneer: It is available in the frozen section in Indian grocery stores. I prefer nanak, gopi brand. I have tried brar and swad brands are ok too. Occasionally I make homemade paneer, but for convenience, I mostly use store-bought.
- Potato: Here I have boiled potatoes in instant pot. Let it cool down to touch, then remove the skin and discard. Then it is mashed with a potato masher or fork. Alternately, you can grate the boiled potato using a grater.
- Corn flour (Cornstarch): It is used as a binding agent so we can roll into smooth balls (kofta).
- Nuts & raisins: I have just used cashew nuts. Personally, we do not like raisins at home so I have skipped it.
And here is the pic of the malai kofta curry ingredients. All of them are easily available in any Indian grocery store.
- Oil and Butter: I have used a combination of both. Butter adds a nice rich flavor. Instead, you can use ghee (clarified butter) or simply use all oil.
- Cashew nuts: helps to make thick, nutty, rich gravy
- Whole spices (cloves, cinnamon, green cardamoms, bay leaf): These are added into the butter as a tempering. They add a nice aromatic flavor to the gravy.
- Red onions: Please use red onions (Yellow or white won’t add that nice flavor).
- Tomatoes: Always use ripe tomatoes. Unripe tomatoes make the gravy sour.
TIP: When it comes to the Indian gravy dishes, I highly recommend using Roma tomatoes. Stay away from the beefsteaks or wine-ripe tomatoes which make sour gravy.
🎥Watch The Recipe Video
👩🍳Step By Step Photo Instructions
Make Kofta:
1) Take grated paneer, boiled, mashed potatoes, corn flour, garam masala, cashews and salt in a bowl.
2) Mix well using hand, it should come together like a dough.
3) Divide the mixture into 12 equal portions and make smooth, round balls.
No-Fry Method:
4) Heat appe (paniyaram) pan on medium heat. Add around 1 teaspoon of oil to each section. Once hot place kofta.
5) Once they get golden brown from the bottom side then flip them and cook another side. If needed you can add few more drops of oil.
6) Similarly, fry the sides as well to get even browning from all the sides.
7) Once they get golden brown from all the sides then remove it on a plate and keep it aside.
OR Deep-Fry Method:
1) While you are shaping the balls heat the oil in a kadai or pan on medium heat for deep frying. Once the oil is hot, add a few kofta gently into it.
2) Keep moving them occasionally so it gets even browning from all the sides. Once golden brown from all the sides remove them using a slotted spatula and keep them on a paper towel lined plate.
Making Gravy:
1) Take onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, cashew nuts, and water in a pan, turn the heat on medium.
2) Let it simmer for 15 minutes or until onion tomatoes get soft. Let it cool down a bit.
3) Then take this mixture into the blender jar.
4) Blend into a smooth puree.
5) Heat oil and butter in a pan on medium heat. Let the butter melt.
6) Add whole spices (cloves, cardamoms, cinnamon, bay leaf) and saute for 1 minute or until you get a nice aroma of the spices.
7) Add the prepared puree.
8) Mix well and cook for 5-7 minutes or until it thickens slightly. While cooking gravy it may splutter, so partially cover the pan with a lid and cook. Do stir occasionally to make sure that it is not sticking to the bottom of the pan.
9) Add red chili powder and coriander powder.
10) Mix well and cook for a minute.
11) Add water and salt. Mix well and let the gravy simmer for 5 minutes.
12) Add garam masala and kasoori methi (crush between palms before adding). Mix well.
13) Add heavy cream and mix.
14) Add koftas into the gravy, turn off the stove and serve malai kofta immediately. If serving later then do not add kofta right now otherwise they get soft and may fall apart. So only add them at the time of serving.
💭Expert Tips
- Do not over-boil the potato. Over cooked potato has more moisture and if that is used in making kofta then kofta turns out super soft and may fall apart while frying or after adding into the gravy.
- The amount of cornflour added in kofta decides the texture. If added less/no amount then koftas turn out super soft from inside and may get mushy or after added into the gravy. If added more amount than mentioned then koftas turn out too firm and dense.
- Strain the prepared onion-tomato puree to get a smooth, velvety gravy texture. Here I have used a high-power Vitamix blender so I have skipped that step.
🍽 Serving Ideas
Serve malai kofta with garlic naan or lachha paratha. Also, serve laccha pyaz, salted lassi on the side to complete the meal.
Malai kofta curry is heavy itself, so it can be served with plain basmati rice or jeera rice to make a lighter meal.
FAQs
- Make gravy ahead of time (same day or a day before). If made a day or two before then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Shape the koftas, arrange them on a tray, cover them, and store them in the refrigerator. If made a week before then you can freeze them. On the day of serving, bring the kofta to room temperature and then deep fry.
- Before serving, re-heat the gravy, add malai dipped koftas, garnish with nuts and cilantro.
Yes, you can. Air-fry them at 375°F for 13-15 minutes.
Check Out Other Popular Paneer Recipes
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📋 Recipe Card
BEST Malai Kofta {Restaurant Style}
Ingredients
For Kofta:
- 2 small or 1 cup Potatoes boiled, peeled and mashed
- 1 cup Paneer grated or crumbled
- 3 tablespoons Corn flour (corn starch)
- 1 tablespoon Cashew nuts chopped
- 1 tablespoon Raisins
- Oil for cooking kofta
To Boil And Grind:
- 1 large or 1 cup Red onion roughly chopped
- ½ inch Ginger
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 3 medium or 2 cups Tomatoes roughly chopped (*preferably roma tomatoes)
- 5-6 Cashew nuts
- ½ cup Water
For Curry:
- 1 tablespoon Oil
- 2 tablespoon Butter
- 1 Bay leaf
- 1 inch Cinnamon stick
- 2-3 Cloves
- 2 Green cardamoms
- Salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon Red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Coriander powder
- ¾ cup Water or as needed
- ½ teaspoon Garam masala
- 1 teaspoon Kasoori methi (Dried fenugreek leaves) lightly crushed between your palm
- ¼ cup Heavy whipping cream or fresh cream or malai
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Instructions
Make Kofta:
- Take grated paneer, boiled, mashed potatoes, corn flour, garam masala, cashews and salt in a bowl. Mix well using hand, it should come together like a dough.
- Divide the mixture into 12 equal portions and make smooth, round balls.
- No-Fry Method: Heat appe (paniyaram) pan on medium heat. Add around 1 teaspoon of oil to each section. Once hot place kofta.
- Once they get golden brown from the bottom side then flip them and cook another side. If needed you can add few more drops of oil. Similarly, fry the sides as well to get even browning from all the sides.
- Once they get golden brown from all the sides then remove it on a plate and keep it aside.
- Deep-Fry Method: While you are shaping the balls heat the oil in a kadai or pan on medium heat for deep frying. Once the oil is hot, add a few kofta gently into it.
- Keep moving them occasionally so it gets even browning from all the sides. Once golden brown from all the sides remove them using a slotted spatula and keep them on a paper towel lined plate.
Making Gravy:
- Take onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, cashew nuts and water in a pan, turn the heat on medium.
- Let it simmer for 15 minutes or until onion tomatoes get soft. Let it cool down a bit.
- Then take this mixture into the blender jar. Blend into a smooth puree.
- Heat oil and butter in a pan on medium heat. Let the butter melt.
- Add whole spices (cloves, cardamoms, cinnamon, bay leaf) and saute for 1 minute or until you get a nice aroma of the spices.
- Add the prepared puree. Mix well and cook for 5-7 minutes or until it thickens slightly. While cooking gravy it may splutter, so partially cover the pan with the lid and cook. Do stir occasionally to make sure that it is not sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Add red chili powder and coriander powder. Mix well and cook for a minute.
- Add water and salt. Mix well and let the gravy simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add garam masala and kasoori methi (crush between palms before adding). Mix well.
- Add heavy cream and mix.
- Add koftas into the gravy, turn off the stove and serve malai kofta immediately. If serving later then do not add kofta right now otherwise they get soft and may fall apart. So only add them at the time of serving.
Notes
- Tomatoes: When it comes to the Indian gravy dishes, I highly recommend using Roma tomatoes. Stay away from the beefsteaks or wine-ripe tomatoes which make sour gravy.
- Do not over-boil the potato. Over cooked potato has more moisture and if that is used in making kofta then kofta turns out super soft and may fall apart while frying or after adding into the gravy.
- The amount of cornflour added in kofta decides the texture. If added less/no amount then koftas turn out super soft from inside and may get mushy or after added into the gravy. If added more amount than mentioned then koftas turn out too firm and dense.
- Strain the prepared onion-tomato puree to get a smooth, velvety gravy texture. Here I have used a high-power Vitamix blender so I have skipped that step.
Mary
Del;icious thank you for the recipe!
Kanan Patel
you're welcome
Varsha
I have mixed rice flour too with corn flour during the making of kofta. It brought a little crispy texture to the kofta which I really loved and others can also try this. You can check out at eatrecipeworld.com
Kanan Patel
Yes, for crisp texture you can add rice flour.
Neeru
This is an amazing recipe. I made for my family and they loved it. I made it again yesterday. Fried the koftas at night and made the curry next morning. But this time the koftas were quite hard. I made with the same proportion. What could be the reason? Plz help
Kanan Patel
Even though it is stored in the fridge it should not turn hard. I'm not sure