Swadishta Ras Malai at Home

Ras Malai is a sweet desert usually prepared on special occasions and which is generally served after meal. The name ras malai comes from two parts in Hindi : ‘ras’ means Juicy and ‘malai’ means cream. Rasmalai is soaked in rich saffron flavored creamy milk .

I am going to prepare this rasmalai in 2 simple steps:

1. Preparing rasgulla.
2. Preparing creamy flavored saffron milk.

Ingredients:

For Rasgulla:

• Milk – ½ ltr
• Vinegar – 2-3 tbsp
• Maida – 1tsp
• Sugar – 1cup
• Water – ½ cup

For creamy flavored saffron milk:

• Milk – 1/2 ltr
• Sugar – 6 tbsp
• Green Cardamom (elaichi)– 3
• Kesar (saffron threads) – 4-5
• Almonds  ( crushed )– 10 pieces

Method to prepare Rasgulla:

1. First take a heavy bottomed pan and heat it on medium flame.
2. Pour milk in the pan and boil the milk.
3. As the milk comes to boil, add vinegar slowly to the milk and stir the milk continuously.
4. The milk fat (chena/paneer) will start separating from the whey, then turn off the flame.
5. Now, drain the whey using a strainer line with muslin cloth.
6. Wrap the paneer in a muslin cloth, rinse under cold water and squeeze it well.
7. When all the water is squeezed, then wrap the paneer under a heavy pan about an hour.
8. When the paneer is ready, place it on a dry and clean surface and knead the paneer till it becomes smooth and soft.
9. Add the maida to the kneaded paneer and make soft dough.
10. Divide the dough into equal parts and roll them in smooth balls.
11. Now mix the sugar and water in a pressure cooker on medium heat and bring it to boil.
12. Add paneer balls to the syrup of sugar and water.
13. Close the pressure cooker, after the pressure cooker starts steaming; cook it for about 7-8 minutes.
14. Turn off the heat and wait a few minutes till the steam is released.
15. Take out the balls from the syrup and keep it aside.
16. Our Rasgulla is ready. 

Method to prepare creamy flavored saffron milk:

1. Take a deep bottomed pan and heat it on medium flame.
2. Pour the milk in the pan and bring it to boil.
3. When the milk is boiled, add the sugar, saffron threads and cardamom to the milk.
4. Stir continuously the milk and cook it for 10-15 minutes.
5. Turn off the heat and then add the Rasgulla to the creamy flavored saffron milk.
6. Garnish with crushed almonds and cool it in the refrigerator.
7. Serve the rasmalai chilled.

Khasta Puri

Puri is one of the most common breads in our India. It is usually served at the time of breakfast with bhaji. Puri is also served with Halwa & Kheer as prashad in pujas.

Ingredients :

• Maida flour – 250 gm
• Ghee – 2-3 tbsp
• Cooking oil – 500 gm
• Water (as required) to knead

Procedure:

1. First take a round shaped bowl.
2. Pour flour and ghee in the bowl and mix well.
3. Add water little by little and knead to smooth dough.
4. Now make the small balls of the dough.
5. Dip the ball in the flour and give shape like small roti.
6. Now take a deep fry pan and heat it on high flame.
7. Pour the cooking oil to the pan and heat the oil for sometime.
8. Now fry the puris one by one.
9. Serve hot with bhaji, halwa, or kheer.