This recipe of shahi paneer malai kofta has been selected as the 200 best shahi paneer recipes on the net by Easy Indian Recipes. Please vote for it, at number 81. The voting link is here.
Updated : This post has been re-edited and updated with new photographs.
We have recently made this paneer malai kofta for my guest and everyone loved it so much, hence thought of sharing some new photographs with you all.
This is the one dish which never fails me, each and every time it spell success with its wonderful aroma that wafts throughout the kitchen and its creamy and rich taste keeps me mesmerized for a long time. I have learnt it from my mom who used to prepare this fabulous dish on festive occasion or for any family gatherings, and it’s definitely a secret or magic in her fingers that each time it taste exactly the same, simply beautiful and amazing , year after year.
Though I haven’t achieved that level of skill in cooking yet, but with malai kofta its a different story. Paneer is one of the most favoured food at our homes, I guess, probably in most of the homes too, and each time I try to do different with it. Moms secret ingredient for this recipe is the paneer itself, she never used the commercial variety, always she used to prepare it fresh from full fat milk, her koftas were always soft, she uses milk to thicken the gravy, but I use cream for the same purpose and my secret ingredient for this recipe is the ground spices.
When it comes to Mughlai cuisine, the most significant ingredients are perhaps the aromatic spices and dry fruits which gives a royal touch to the dish, hence shahi paneer and off course the boiled onion paste which gives a creamy texture to the dish. The term “Kofta” has been borrowed from the middle eastern cuisine where it means balls of minced meat, remember nargisi kofta…the species is really in endangered form !!!
And above all, this is not going to be an ordinary malai kofta, yes..it will be a stuffed kofta and beside paneer, sweet green peas are going to be part of this royal dish too.
- Paneer : 200 gm (this will make 8 koftas of medium size)
- Sweet green peas : 1 cup
- the ground spice mix contains : ( roast 1 nutmeg, 4 mace, 1 big black cardamom, 1″cinnamon stick, 1 tsp white pepper powder, ½ tsp shah jeera (caraway seeds) and 2-3 kashmiri red chili in a griddle or tawa and ground to a fine powder in a mortar / pestle).
- Almond flakes (chopped them if requires) : 1 tbsp
- Grated cheddar cheese : 1 tsp
- Oil for deep-frying the koftas
- Seasoning the koftas :
- Roasted cumin powder : 1 tsp
- Coriander powder : 1 tsp
- Cinnamon powder : 1 tsp
- Salt to taste
- Ghee (softened) / Oil : 2 tbsp
- Bay leaves : 2
- Ground spice mix (refer above)
- Boiled onion paste of 1 medium size onion ( peel the onion, boil it in water and then grind to a smooth paste in a mixer).
- White poppy seed paste (should have a creamy texture) : ½ cup
- Cashew nut paste (unsalted and not roasted) : ½ cup
- Melon seed paste (optional) : 1 tbsp
- Plain yogurt / curd (whipped /beaten) : ½ cup
- Ginger paste (freshly prepared) : 1bsp
- Roasted cumin powder : 1 tsp
- Roasted coriander powder : 1½ tsp
- Salt and sugar to taste
- Warm water : 2 cup
- Light / heavy cream or milk : ¾ cup
- here you have two options, you can either prepare it fresh from milk or can use the commercial variety. If you are using the commercial variety, then after thawing the paneer, soak it in warm milk for 10 minutes.
- Now crumble the paneer, season it with salt, cinnamon powder, coriander powder and roasted cumin powder.
- Blanch the sweet green peas and mashed them, add it to paneer and pulse it together in a mixer for 5-8 sec till it forms a dough like structure.
- This is little tricky, and if you think that it does not form a proper dough then add 2 tablespoon all purpose flour. Knead the dough for couple of minutes and divide it in equal portions and make round balls from it.
- Stuffed each ball with almond flakes and grated cheddar cheese. Roll them properly and deep fry them in hot oil till golden brown.
- Heat some oil in a deep skillet, and temper it with bay leaves, and ground spice mix.
- Next add the boiled onion paste, mix it properly with the spices and saute it for few minutes on low flame till it turns slightly translucent.
- Add the ginger paste and fry it for couple of minutes.
- Add the whipped curd and mix well.
- Season with salt and sugar.
- Next add the poppy seed paste, saute for couple of minutes.
- Add the roasted cumin powder, and coriander powder.
- Next add the cashew nut paste with 2 cups of warm water, mix them properly and let it simmer for few minutes.
- Drop the koftas in the gravy carefully, simmer for 2-3 minutes, and take it off the stove.
- Stir in the cream and serve with naan, kulcha, shahjani pulao or biryani.
Enjoy it peshavri naan or kulcha or with shahjani pulao. Go for a royal feast !
Sukanya
20 Comments
aipi
July 20, 2011 at 7:08 pmTotally with you on paneer. We are insane paneer lovers too. For me the gravy in your dish is the highlight. The creaminess and color makes it look simply delicious. Also like how the koftas have retained their shape even though completely a part of the dish. Exactly the way I like it.
US Masala
Vidhya Jayadeep
July 20, 2011 at 7:30 pmCurry looks so yummy and creamy.
Priyanka
July 20, 2011 at 8:28 pmWow…its a lovely twist to the dish…loved it
Deepa
July 20, 2011 at 9:07 pmMalai kofta looks so lavish and delicious As usual your clicks are simply brilliant.
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
Tadka Pasta
July 21, 2011 at 1:45 amShahi Paneer and malai kofta come together? Be still our beating hearts 🙂
Deboshree
July 21, 2011 at 11:11 amAha, that’s a novelty indeed! Must try this out some time…
I have missed some of your recipes. I plan to catch up on them very soon. 😀
Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
July 21, 2011 at 3:12 pmThis looks totally luscious Sukanya and I absolutely have to make these for a party – on my list! BTW, can u please email me your mailing address 🙂
chow! Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
kankana
July 21, 2011 at 7:04 pmuuuuu now that is making me drool. Give me that dish and one kulcha and I will finish my dinner with a smile 🙂
Priya Yallapantula
July 22, 2011 at 2:16 pmwow, I so want to try it out right now and feel it in my mouth. Loving your pics and description, method and everything 🙂
Saras
July 26, 2011 at 3:40 pmLooks rich & creamy..Thanks for your lovely narration & sending across to my event.
SIGNATURE RECIPES & A GIVEAWAY till july 31st 2011
Tes
July 29, 2011 at 12:34 pmI ordered this many times in Indian restaurants, now I am gonna try cooking it 🙂
Premalatha Aravindhan
July 29, 2011 at 10:21 pmyummy and delicious kofta…
Umm Mymoonah
July 31, 2011 at 11:44 pmThank you for sharing your secret ingredient with us, seriously very tempting. Definitely this is on my top list to try, thank you so much for sending it to Iftar Moments 🙂
shanthi
August 1, 2011 at 1:05 amWow looks yummy and creamy
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Easy Indian Recipes
March 17, 2014 at 9:10 pmHi! Your shahi paneer recipe was nominated as one of the “Best Shahi Paneer Recipes on the Net”. To vote for it, please visit http://easyindianrecipes.org/side-dish-recipes/best-shahi-paneer-recipes-on-the-net-vote-for-your-favorite/ – your recipe is positioned at #81 (random order).
saffronstreaks
March 18, 2014 at 2:44 pmThank you so much for the nomination. Fingers crossed. 🙂
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