- 1
Start by boiling 1 litre of full-fat milk in a heavy-bottomed pan. Make sure to stir occasionally to prevent the milk from burning at the bottom.
- 2
Once the milk starts boiling, add 2 tbsp of lemon juice or vinegar. This will curdle the milk, separating it into curds and whey.
- 3
Stir the milk continuously until it curdles completely. You will see the curds (solid parts) separating from the whey (liquid).
- 4
Place a muslin cloth over a strainer and pour the curdled milk into it to separate the paneer from the whey.
- 5
Rinse the paneer under cold water to remove any sour taste from the lemon juice or vinegar. This also helps cool down the paneer, making it easier to handle.
- 6
Gather the muslin cloth's edges and squeeze it to remove excess water from the paneer.
- 7
Hang the muslin cloth with paneer for about 30 minutes to drain any remaining water.
- 8
After draining, place the paneer on a clean surface and knead it for 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and soft. This step is crucial for getting a good texture for the paneer balls.
- 9
Divide the kneaded paneer into small equal portions. Roll each portion between your palms to form small, flat balls. Set these aside.
- 10
In another heavy-bottomed pan, boil the remaining 1 litre of full-fat milk. Add 1/2 cup of sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
- 11
Add 1/4 cup of coarsely ground pistachios and 1/4 tsp of cardamom powder to the milk. Mix well to combine all the flavours.
- 12
Let the milk simmer for about 10-12 minutes, allowing it to thicken slightly and absorb the flavours.
- 13
Gently add the paneer balls to the simmering milk mixture. Be careful not to break the balls.
- 14
Cook the paneer balls on low heat for 15-20 minutes. During this time, the balls will absorb the milk and become soft and spongy.
- 15
Once the paneer balls are cooked, turn off the heat and allow the ras malai to cool down to room temperature.
- 16
After it has cooled, transfer the ras malai to a bowl and refrigerate it for at least 2 hours. Chilling helps the flavours to meld together beautifully.
- 17
Before serving, garnish the ras malai with chopped pistachios and a few saffron strands. This adds a lovely touch of colour and enhances the flavour.
- 18
Serve the chilled ras malai as a delightful dessert. Enjoy the creamy, sweet, and aromatic treat.
- 19
If you liked this recipe of Ras malai, remember to share it with your friends and family.