Malai Kofta is a popular Indian curry, traditionally made with Paneer-Potato based deep fried dumpling(Kofta) served with rich & creamy(Malai) onion-tomato-cashew based gravy. Malai kofta curry is rich, creamy, delicious and melts rights in your mouth. Its’s so yum that you just can’t say no to it. But its heavy on your stomach because of deep fried koftas and there is regret when you are counting your calories. So, How about we make this delicacy a healthier one and that too without compromising its taste.
Today I share with your all my version of Air fried Malai koftas recipe with minimal use of oil. Trust me these koftas are equally good and taste great. The one and only thing you will notice is slight change of shape. Which I think is not a problem at all, when you get to enjoy this super yum dish without any guilt.
The koftas prepared in air fryer are equally crunchy from outside and soft and creamy inside. stuffed with chopped dry fruits enhancing its richness and taste. Finish off with a swirl of fresh cream, the Air fryer Malai Kofta Recipe is ready to serve. Serve hot with chapattis, paranthas or steamed rice and enjoy this mouth melting excellence.
Step by Step Instructions with Photos
To make Kofta’s outer layer
- Boil, peel & grate potatoes. Grate paneer. Keep aside.
- In a mixing bowl add grated potato, paneer, corn flour, cardamom powder, red chili powder, garam masala and salt.
- Mix gently. Don’t over knead, potato may get sticky. Add more corn flour if required. If it turns sticky, refrigerate it for 20 minutes and use.
Make Kofta’s stuffing
- For the stuffing chop all ingredients from table 2.
- In a bowl mix add in chopped ingredients with grated paneer. Season with salt and mix well.
Make Kofta
- Divide the potato-paneer mixture into eight equal parts. Roughly divide the stuffing into 8 equal part for even stuffing.
- Now on your greased palm flat each potion and stuff with dry fruits mixture.
- Roll gently between your palm and give a round shape.
- Refrigerate the stuffed koftas for 20 minutes before air frying. Meanwhile you can work on gravy and follow the steps under Make Gravy.
- After 20 minutes, place the kofta on lined air fryer tray with parchment paper. Spray just a little oil over the koftas.
- Air fry the koftas for 7-8 minutes at 380 °F or until the koftas turns golden in color.
- Flip, and once again spray or brush little oil and fry them for another 8 minutes. The temperatures and time might vary with the size of air fryer.
- Air fried Koftas are ready. Keep them aside.
Make Gravy
- Roughly chop onion, tomato, ginger and garlic.
- Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a pan. And add in cumin seeds, cloves, cardamoms, cinnamon stick and bay leaf.
- When cumin sizzles add in chopped onion, ginger, garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add chopped tomato and cashews with ½ cup of water.
- Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes. Cook till tomatoes are soft, stirring occasionally. Switch of the flame and keep aside to cool completely.
- Once cooled, blend the mixture into smooth puree.
- Pass it through sieve. Heat 2 Tbsp. of oil in deep pan and add pureed mixture. Cook on a medium flame for 2-3 minutes while stirring occasionally.
- Next add in red chili powder, garam masala, salt and yogurt. Mix well and cook on medium flame for 8-10 minutes or till the oil begins to separate. Stir occasionally.
- Add kasuri methi crushing between your palm and cook gravy for more 2-3 minutes. Finally add in cream, mix everything well and stir the curry for 1-2 minutes
Serve Malai Kofta
- Arrange the Koftas in a serving bowl with gravy on side or pour over. Garnish with cream and fresh coriander leaves.
- And serve hot with Indian bread, Naan, Chapatti or steamed Rice.
Recipe Card
Malai Kofta Recipe/Air Fryer Recipe
Description
Malai Kofta Recipe- Paneer-Potato based deep fried dumpling(Kofta) served with rich & creamy(Malai) onion-tomato-cashew based gravy. Today I share with your all my version of Air fried Malai koftas recipe with minimal use of oil. Trust me these koftas are equally good and taste great. The one and only thing you will notice is slight change of shape. Which I think is not a problem at all, when you get to enjoy this super yum dish without any guilt.
Ingredients
For the Koftas (outer layer)
For the Kofta's (stuffing)
For the Gravy
Instructions
To make Kofta’s outer layer
-
Boil, peel & grate potatoes. Grate paneer. Keep aside.
-
In a mixing bowl add grated potato, paneer, corn flour, cardamom powder, red chili powder, garam masala and salt.
-
Mix gently. Don’t over knead, potato may get sticky. Add more corn flour if required. If it turns sticky, refrigerate it for 20 minutes and use.
Make Kofta’s stuffing
-
For the stuffing chop all ingredients from table 2.
-
In a bowl mix add in chopped ingredients with grated paneer. Season with salt and mix well.
Make Kofta
-
Divide the potato-paneer mixture into eight equal parts. Roughly divide the stuffing into 8 equal part for even stuffing.
-
Now on your greased palm flat each potion and stuff with dry fruits mixture.
-
Roll gently between your palm and give a round shape.
-
Refrigerate the stuffed koftas for 20 minutes before air frying. Meanwhile you can work on gravy and follow the steps under Make Gravy.
-
After 20 minutes, place the kofta on lined air fryer tray with parchment paper. Spray just a little oil over the koftas.
-
Air fry the koftas for 7-8 minutes at 380 °F or until the koftas turns golden in color.
-
Flip, and once again spray or brush little oil and fry them for another 8 minutes. The temperatures and time might vary with the size of air fryer.
-
Air fried Koftas are ready. Keep them aside.
Make Gravy
-
Roughly chop onion, tomato, ginger and garlic.
-
Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a pan. And add in cumin seeds, cloves, cardamoms, cinnamon stick and bay leaf.
-
When cumin sizzles add in chopped onion, ginger, garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add chopped tomato and cashews with ½ cup of water.
-
Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes. Cook till tomatoes are soft, stirring occasionally. Switch of the flame and keep aside to cool completely.
-
Once cooled, blend the mixture into smooth puree.
-
Pass it through sieve. Heat 2 Tbsp. of oil in deep pan and add pureed mixture. Cook on a medium flame for 2-3 minutes while stirring occasionally.
-
Next add in red chili powder, garam masala, salt and yogurt. Mix well and cook on medium flame for 8-10 minutes or till the oil begins to separate. Stir occasionally.
-
Add kasuri methi crushing between your palm and cook gravy for more 2-3 minutes. Finally add in cream, mix everything well and stir the curry for 1-2 minutes
Serve Malai Kofta
-
Arrange the Koftas in a serving bowl with gravy on side or pour over. Garnish with cream and fresh coriander leaves.
-
And serve hot with Indian bread, Naan, Chapatti or steamed Rice.
Looks yummy and healthy 😊