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Baked Malai Kofta Curry
Malai Kofta is a popular Indian vegetarian side dish made with kofta balls dunked in creamy tomato based gravy. Serve them with Naan bread or homemade flatbread!
INDIAN MALAI KOFTA RECIPE
This Baked Malai Kofta recipe is a healthy take on the popular Vegetarian curry.
Malai Kofta is a Mughlai Speciality dish made with Deep fried Potato Paneer Balls simmered in Spiced Onion Tomato Gravy.Whilst cooking for a larger numbers, I chose to bake the kofta’s rather than making in individual kuzhi paniyaram pans. Both the methods are really healthy as you may just brush very little oil for them.
Both my boys celebrate their birthday together and this is really very special for me overhear. I decided to prepare an elaboratemeal by myself and wanted everything special . Baked Malai Kofta was my first attempt for the party and it did come out well.
Guests were really excited about enjoying a healthier Kofta amidst all the treatise delicacies that evening.
Some of the other dishes you could make if you are planning a party are Paneer Biryani , Vegetable Biryani , Dhaba Style Dal Fry, Dhaba Style Aloo Mutter, Dry Potato Cauliflower Curry
BAKED MALAI KOFTA RECIPE BELOW
Baked Malai Kofta
4.60 from 10 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 People
Author: Sandhya Hariharan
Baked Malai koftais a popular Indian vegetarian curry made with baked potato & paneer balls dunked in rich & creamy tomato based gravy.Makes 20 Kofta balls!
Ingredients
For Kofta
- 150 g Cooked Potato finely grated
- 125 g Paneer finely grated
- 1/2 tsp chilli powder
- 1/2 tsp garam masala
- 2 tbsp coriander leaves finely chopped
- 2 tbsp corn flour
- salt to taste
- 1 Slice Bread ground to make Bread crumbs
- Oil for brushing as needed
For Gravy
- 2 Medium sized onion 250g
- 1 green chilli
- 1 ” ginger
- 4 cloves garlic
- 15 Cashewnuts
- 1/2 Cup water
- 3 Large Vine Tomatoes or 1 can of chopped tomatoes 400g - pureed
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 1 tbsp Oil
- 2 Bay Leaf
- 1 ” Cinnamon Stick
- 5 Cardamom
- 3 Cloves
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 - 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp Kasuri methi
- Garnish
- 3 tbsp Cream
- 2 tbsp Coriander leaves
Instructions
For Gravy
Place onion, ginger, garlic, green chilli, cashew nuts and water in a small sauce pan. Cover and cook in medium heat for roughly 10 -12 minutes until onions are soft.
Allow the onion mixture to cool down and puree them smooth.
In a deep pan, heat the oil and butter. Add bay leaf, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon stick and fry for 30 seconds.
Add the onion puree, salt and allow the mixture to cook for a few minutes.
Add the tomato puree, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder and cook till the masala paste leaves the sides of the pan.
At this stage add water as needed and allow the gravy to simmer when it begins to thicken.
Stir in Kasuri methi, garam masala and turn off the flame.
Taste for flavours and add more salt as required.
For Kofta
Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and knead to a dough. Divide the dough into 12 small bowls.
Preheat the oven to 200 C . Arrange all the koftas on the baking sheet Brush Oil all over them. Bake until they turn slightly brown. Keep checking and turning them in regular intervals.
If you plan to make them in Kuzhi Paniyaram Pans, slide the kofta balls in to the cavity and brush them with very little oil. Pan fry them until they turn golden brown . Remember to flip on all sides to get even browning. Serving Malai Kofta
SERVING
Add the paneer kofta to the gravy at the time of serving. If you wish to serve the malai kofta later, add them just before that.
Garnish the malai kofta with cream and coriander leaves.
Serve malai kofta with kulcha.
Notes
If the kofta balls are splitting while frying, mix in a little more corn flour.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: North Indian
Tried this recipe?Mention @Sandhyaskitchen and Hashtag #sandhyaskitchen!
Reader Interactions
Comments
Sree vidya says slurpppp
Its sooo rich and so good. Moghalai food rocks and so does Sandy!
Now I feel why I don't live in your neighbourhood 😉Reply
- Sharmilee! :) says
Baked that sounds healthy and tasty koftas….Long time since I made them , u r tempting me with ur clicks!
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What a co-incidence…I made malai kofta curry today..yet to be posted..yours looking so nice..
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- Ms.Chitchat says
Awesome and perfect Malai koftas. click is too tempting and am ready to have those with my rotis for lunch :):)
- kitchen queen says
Hmmmmmmmm! yummmmmmmmmm malai kofta can I have the entire bowl to myself?
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- Fathima says
looks so rich 'n yummy!
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- Aparna says
woww awesome..yummy & delicious koftas..:)
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- Rachana Kothari says
Mouthwatering baked malai kofta curry!!! We tried it and it was soo good..
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- Parita says
Baked malai kofta sounds so much more healthy and looks rich!
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- Priya says
Yummylicious kofta curry Sandhya, baked version sounds more healthier than the deepfried one for the sure…definitely a crowd pleaser..
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- Cool Lassi(e) says
What a delectable looking kofta! And great choices too. I bet the guests loved the idea of making picking their own koftas!
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- Happy Cook says
Love the baked kofta, looks drooley delicous. I am sur eghe wa shappy you diod all the effor for his special day.
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- simply.food says
I love the baked koftas ,its so much healthier than frying them .Will definately book mark this recipe for future use.Gravy looks delicious too.
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- Raje says
Sandy, thanks for stopping by… Koftas look so inviting! A nice healthy idea to bake them dear. I must try this way too.
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- Rajee says
I love malai kofta and the baked version sounds great.
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- Jagruti says
Lovely kofta curry!! looks delicious and tasty…nice to bake them..
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- Latha says
It looks yummmm…..rich & creamy.
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- Deepa G Joshi says
such a fabulous click..love this yummy dish..nice way to make bake it.bookmarked..
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- A Homemakers Diary says
thats a very good idea of baking paneer koftas. I make baked chicken koftas but this one sounds very healthy. awesome clcik and perfect recipe Sandhya.
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- Ushnish Ghosh says
Dear sandhya
How are you? I dont know why I am missing out some posting, specially the pasta salad..may be I am not being able to pick up the post notification properly.
This is an awesome recipe..of course if I try this one, the kofta will not see the gravy , cause I will eat away the Kofta right out of the frying pan.
By the way I havent forgotten that I am supposed to give you the recipe of simple Calcutta potato curry. I will send you, just want to try it out in the kitchen
Happy holiReply
- SE says
yummy…this would be something that i would prefer..a baked one..
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- Gulmohar says
Baked version sounds healthy and yumm…Beautiful pics 🙂
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- shanthi says
i wish I would have been your neighbour. Its really creamy and rich
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- Gita says
I love this baked version…the gravy looks so rich and creamy…awesome platter overall 🙂
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- RAKS KITCHEN says
Indeed this is a healthier version! Looks nice! Sure should have made ur boyz B'day celebration spl 🙂
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- Babli says
Wish you and your family a very Happy Holi.
Malai kofta curry looks delicious and mouth watering.Reply
- Subhashini says
Hi
I am dropping in first time.Liked your recipes very much.Gonna following you.Reply
- Ramya Vijaykumar says
Yum yum yummy the koftas in the gravy is looking very tasty and inviting!!!
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- kothiyavunu says
Baked version sounds healthy and tasty!!Looks delicious sandhya.:)
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- kothiyavunu says
Baked version sounds healthy and tasty..Koftas looks delicious!
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- Kanchan says
Baked is a nice healthy way ! But loved your clicks , they look perfect.
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- Pari says
hi. A great way of reducing the cals.I love boiled onion-tomato gravy and urs is looking so good.
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- Malar Gandhi says
Whooo malai kofta looks mouthwatering…wonderful:)
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- malarvizhi says
lovely and mouthwatering.thanks for sharing.
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- Usha says
Looks fantastic ! I loved that you managed to bake the koftas instead of frying them, a must try!
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- Deepti says
Hey this baked version is very gud n healthy too…less time consuming too.
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- Viki's Kitchen says
Nargisi kofta and malai kofta sounds very delicious dear. I am sure the guests could have enjoyed the party very much. Looks incredibly tasty.
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- Mythreyi Dilip says
Thanks for making malai koftas so healthy. Looks as delicious as fried ones. Gr8 job dear:)
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- Soma Pradhan says
The koftas look so tempting…Even i just tawa fry the koftas..you seem to have found a more healthier way
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- Shama Nagarajan says
delicious curry…nice picture
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- Preety says
it looks so yummy…baking the koftas are a great idea
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- Meena says
Love the baked koftas…I recently started baking my koftas too…so much healthier and almost guilt-free!!!
First time on your space…love the layout! Will be following your recipes to see the dishes that come out of your kitchen next:))
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- meeso says
I love that these are baked! Lovely 🙂
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- Alyssa says
Sandhya, it’s awesome! I cannot wait to try this. I bet it makes the house smell divine and tastes incredible!Reply
- Bala says
can you please suggest alternate for bread?
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- Sandhya's Kitchen says
Leave out the bread in the recipe. Increase the corn flour to 1/2 cup.
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- Shivangi Mittal says
Tried the baked Kofta, and the fried too, my fried koftas did burst open while frying, so I added more Corn starch as suggested- and it started to work brilliantly.
My baked Koftas turned out very good.
Thank you for the recipeReply
- Sandhya's Kitchen says
Thank you for your feedback Shivangi! So glad you enjoyed our Baked Kofta!
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- Tyler says
Thank you for sharing this recipe! I’m so happy I can make malai kofta without deep-frying.This recipe turned out great, however, I had a very difficult time baking the koftas as the potato wouldn’t cook fully. I tried re-baking them and they turned out better but still not completely cooked.
What do you recommend? Maybe next time I should try blanching the peeled potatoes before grating them?
Thank you for your time. 🙂
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- Sandhya's Kitchen says
Hi Tyler, The potatoes need to be cooked as mentioned in the recipe, before shaping them into kofta balls.
Glad you loved the taste!Reply
