This Malai Kofta is easy to make and packed with amazing flavor that the whole family will love. Try this for yourself and you know this will be a staple at your house. Even pickiest kids will got a big soft spot on this Malai Kofta restaurant style that tastes so fantastic that no one would ever tell it is naturally vegan. Vegetarian dumplings are covered in creamy tomato sauce. What’s not to love about this?
If you know me a bit and followed me for some time, you know I’m totally on board with Indian dishes like this Dal Makhani, the One Pot Chickpea Biryani, or my Aloo Gobi.
To give you some inspiration, feel free to browse around. You will find even some ideas how to use your instant pot to make my Instant Pot Dal.
Be sure this Malai Kofta is super addictive, but no one would ever guess how easy it is to make, perfectly seasoned in and out with great texture.
Also you will find yourself eating this tomato sauce with a spoon. Be brave and wait or make a double batch just saying.
What’s in this creamy tomato sauce
- garlic
- tomato sauce
- cashew butter
- onions
- garam masala
What’s in the box for you with this Kofta seasoning
This recipe lives off its spices. To make the seasoning, make sure you have:
- garam masala
- minced onion + onion powder
- cumin
- fenugreek
- minced garlic + garlic powder
- chili powder
- nutritional yeast
What you need for this Malai Kofta Recipe:
- seasoning (see above)
- potatoes
- extra firm tofu
- corn starch
- oil for frying
How to make Malai Kofta
In a bowl, combine cooked and grated potatoes, grated tofu, Kofta seasoning. Next add 1/4 cup of the cornstarch and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Form a dough with a spatula or pulse 2 times in your food processor. If you like you can also just use your hands. If the dough does not hold well together, add more corn starch as needed.
Form dough into equal balls, each taking about 3 Tbs. Heat oil in a pan. Make sure the oil is hot enough before frying. Fry the balls for around 3 minutes, do this until all balls are done, then set them aside. Clean the pan.
Make the tomato sauce: heat oil, fry garlic for 2 minutes. Add tomato sauce, garam masala, and cashew butter. Cook for 2 minutes longer until everything is creamy.
Add Malai Kofta balls back to the pan and warm them in the sauce for around 5 minutes at low heat.
Finally top with optional coconut milk.
This is such an amazing dish for dinner, lunch, meal prep yes make the kofta before and fry later.
Tips and tricks for this vegan Malai Kofta
Make sure when you cook the potatoes as preparation that they still have some texture and don’t get too soft. They should not be cooked through completely. Same as just al dente pasta.
I used extra firm tofu and I strongly recommend you use this too. Soft tofu will be impossible to grate. Also I find tofu is the closest to paneer. If you don’t need it vegan, you can use paneer or cheddar.
When you grate the tofu, dry it before with a paper towel and get rid of any excess liquid.
If you try this Malai Kofta tag me on Facebook or Instagram, with a picture.
Love seeing all your remakes.
Cheers, Florian.
Malai Kofta
This Malai Kofta is easy to make and packed with amazing flavor that the whole family will love. Try this for yourself and you know this will be a staple at your house. Even pickiest kids will got a big soft spot on this Malai Kofta restaurant style that tastes so fantastic that no one would ever tell it is naturally vegan. Vegetarian dumplings are covered in creamy tomato sauce.
Ingredients
For the Malai Kofta:
- 8 oz tofu
- 2 lbs potatoes
- 1/3 cup corn starch or other starch
- Kofta seasoning (3 Tbs garam masala, 2 Tbs onion powder, 1 Tbs cumin, 1 Tbs fenugreek, 1 Tbs chili powder, minced garlic + 2 Tbs garlic powder, nutrtional yeast)
- oil for frying
- salt, pepper to taste
For the Malai sauce:
- 30 oz tomato sauce
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 2 tsp oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/3 cup cashew butter
- salt, pepper to taste
Optional:
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine cooked and grated potatoes, grated tofu, Kofta seasoning. Next add 1/4 cup of the cornstarch and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Form a dough with a spatula or pulse 2 times in your food processor. If you like you can also just use your hands. If the dough does not hold well together, add more corn starch as needed.
- Form dough into equal balls, each taking about 3 Tbs. Heat oil in a pan. Make sure the oil is hot enough before frying. Fry the balls for around 3 minutes, do this until all balls are done, then set them aside. Clean the pan.
- Make the tomato sauce: heat oil, fry garlic for 2 minutes. Add tomato sauce, garam masala, and cashew butter. Cook for 2 minutes longer until everything is creamy.
- Add Malai Kofta balls back to the pan and warm them in the sauce for around 5 minutes at low heat. Finally top with optional coconut milk.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 4 balls with sauceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 678Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 189mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 11gSugar: 9gProtein: 23g
Sonja
Thursday 16th of February 2023
What kind of tofu should be used? There are different textures. Which is the best?
Florian
Friday 17th of February 2023
Hi Sonja! Extra firm tofu is best and let me know what you think.
catherine mcbrien
Wednesday 24th of November 2021
This looks like an interesting recipe, but I am totally confused as the recipe refers to combining cooked and grated potatoes, implying that some of the grated potatoes are left raw, but does not indicate what proportion of potatoes are cooked and what are left raw.
Florian
Wednesday 24th of November 2021
Hi Catherine! It means the potatoes are first cooked, then grated. Hope that clarifies and helps.
Anne
Tuesday 24th of March 2020
Another great recipe (I tried the chickpeas and lentils yesterday). The spices were aromatic and provided wonderful flavour. I used cheddar instead of tofu but next time I’ll try with tofu. The coconut milk gave it a lovely creamy taste. Kids loved it. The only teeny, weeny, little thing was the time it was supposed to take. 30 minutes....seriously??!! Either I’m a snail in the kitchen or you’re speedy Gonzales. Can’t wait to try more of your recipes. I have hit the jackpot twice now.
James M
Wednesday 11th of March 2020
How long should i pre boil the potatoes? What kind of potatoes? Skin on or off?
Florian
Thursday 12th of March 2020
Hi James! You should boil them with skin off, check after 15 minutes if the are just tender. If it needs longer boil for 5 minutes longer. It is really important for the texture that potatoes are not too soft. Any potatoes will work, except sweet potatoes. Hope that helps.
Judi
Sunday 1st of March 2020
Wanted to make this but that seems like an awful lot of seasoning for one batch?
Florian
Sunday 1st of March 2020
Hi Judi! The seasoning is essential for this recipe to get it right. Potatoes and tofu tend to be really bland, if not seasoned right. You can of course start out with less as you like. Note that this is also for at least 16 balls. Let me know how it goes.