All recipes

Malai Kofta

Name: Malai Kofta
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 3 pc Potato, boiled and mashed; 150 g Cottage cheese, grated; 2 tbsp Cornflour; 10 pc Dry fruits, a few chopped for the filling, rest for gravy; 500 ml Cooking oil, for deep-frying; 4 pc Tomato, roughly chopped; 1 pc Onion, roughly chopped; 1 tbsp Ginger, paste; 1 tbsp Garlic, paste; 2 tbsp Butter; 1 tsp Red chilli powder; 100 ml Cream; 1 tsp Salt, to taste

55 min Medium 4 servings

Serves 4 · Total 55 min · Prep 25 min · Cook 30 min

Updated on 28 October 2026

Photo: Fabienkhan / CC BY-SA 4.0

Deep-fried dumplings of mashed potato and paneer, dunked in a rich, creamy cashew-tomato gravy. A vegetarian showpiece on North Indian menus, it looks and feels festive enough for any special dinner.

Quick answer: 55 min in total · serves 4 · main ingredients: Potato, Cottage cheese, Cornflour, Dry fruits · amounts in metric and US

Jump to recipe

Ingredients

Metric US

3 pc 3 pc Potato, boiled and mashed
150 g 5.3 oz Cottage cheese, grated
2 tbsp 2 tbsp Cornflour
10 pc 10 pc Dry fruits, a few chopped for the filling, rest for gravy
500 ml 2 cup Cooking oil, for deep-frying
4 pc 4 pc Tomato, roughly chopped
1 pc 1 pc Onion, roughly chopped
1 tbsp 1 tbsp Ginger, paste
1 tbsp 1 tbsp Garlic, paste
2 tbsp 2 tbsp Butter
1 tsp 1 tsp Red chilli powder
100 ml 0.4 cup Cream
1 tsp 1 tsp Salt, to taste

Steps

Timers run only while this tab is open. The Degchi app keeps them running on a locked phone.

Mix mashed potato, grated paneer, cornflour, salt and a few chopped cashews into a soft dough.
Shape into small balls and deep-fry in hot oil until golden brown.
⏱ Frying kofta · 7 min
Drain on paper towels and set aside.
Simmer tomato, onion, remaining cashews, ginger and garlic in water until soft, then blend smooth.
⏱ Cooking the base · 10 min
Melt butter in a pan and pour in the strained puree; cook until it thickens.
⏱ Cooking gravy · 8 min
Add red chilli powder, salt and cream; simmer gently for 5 minutes.
⏱ Simmering gently · 5 min
Just before serving, place the koftas in a bowl and pour the hot gravy over them.
Serve immediately so the koftas stay crisp at the edges.

Cook this in the app — get Degchi on Google Play

Get it on Google Play

Not sure you have everything? Check this against your pantry

Frequently asked questions

How long does Malai Kofta take?

55 minutes in total: about 25 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of cooking.

Is Malai Kofta hard to make?

Degchi rates it medium. The method has 8 steps, and 4 of them have a timer you can start on this page.

How many people does Malai Kofta serve?

This recipe serves 4. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.

Is Malai Kofta halal, vegetarian or eggless?

It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.

What will I probably need to buy for Malai Kofta?

Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: cooking oil, red chilli powder, salt. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: potato, cottage cheese, tomato, onion, ginger, garlic, butter, cream. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: cornflour, dry fruits.

Any tips for making Malai Kofta?

Add koftas to the gravy only right before serving — soaking too long makes them soggy.