Best Chicken Kofta Balls In Kashmiri Cashew Saffron Sauce Recipes

HERBY CHICKEN KOFTA MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Pulse yellow onions and garlic in a food processor until very finely chopped.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add chopped onion and garlic, season with 1/2 tsp. salt, and cook, stirring, until softened and lightly browned, 10-15 minutes. Add cumin, coriander, and red pepper and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30-60 seconds. Scrape into a large bowl and let cool slightly.
• Wipe out food processor and add parsley and mint. Pulse until finely chopped, then transfer to bowl with onion mixture. Add chicken and remaining 1 1/2 tsp. salt to bowl with onion mixture. Mix with your hands to combine, but do not overwork. Divide into 16 equal portions (about 1/3 cup per kofta). Shape into 3 1/2x2" "footballs" with tapered ends.
• Arrange patties on a rimmed baking sheet and roast, flipping halfway through, until chicken is cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 165°F, about 8 minutes per side.
• Do Ahead
• Kofta can be made 3 days ahead; transfer to an airtight container and chill, or freeze up to 6 months.

MALAI KOFTA

Steps:

• For the kofta: Combine the mashed potatoes, cilantro, chiles, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Knead the mixture until thoroughly combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then set aside.
• Put the paneer in a food processor and pulse until crumbly. Add the nuts and dried fruit and pulse until the fruit is coarsely chopped and the nuts are broken into small pieces. (If the paneer is not salted, add a pinch of salt.) Transfer the paneer mixture to a small bowl.
• Form the mashed potato mixture into 8 equal balls. (A kitchen scale isn't necessary, but is helpful.) Form the paneer mixture into 8 equal balls. They don't have to be perfectly shaped, but it is much easier to stuff the potato balls when the paneer mixture has been squished into little balls.
• Hold a potato ball in the palm of your hand. Make an indentation with your thumb. Place a paneer ball into the concave hollow and push it in gently. Pinch the potato mixture around it and roll the potato ball in your palm to make a nice round shape. Repeat with the remaining potato and paneer balls. If the potato mixture is sticking to your hands and preventing you from rolling a smooth ball, dampen the palms of your hands with a little room-temperature water and continue rolling.
• Place the besan in a shallow bowl. Gently roll the stuffed balls in the besan. Transfer the coated balls to a plate, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate while you make the sauce. (It is easier to fry the balls when they have rested and are cold.)
• For the sauce: Meanwhile, stir together the garam masala, Kashmiri chili powder, coriander, turmeric and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl until combined. Set the spice mixture aside.
• Heat the olive oil and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and let sizzle until they darken slightly, about 30 seconds. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and just starting to get a hint of color, 8 to 10 minutes. (Do not brown them, as that will affect the color of the sauce.)
• Add the garlic, ginger and 1/2 teaspoon salt, mix well and cook, stirring often, until the raw smell goes away, about 2 minutes. Add the spice mixture and cook, stirring often, until the oil comes out, about 5 minutes.
• Drain the cashews and add to the saucepan, then add the tomatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Increase the heat to medium high and cook until the tomato mixture is thickened and pasty, about 7 minutes. Set aside and let cool.
• Meanwhile, fry the kofta. Fill a large Dutch oven halfway with vegetable oil, attach a deep-fry thermometer and heat over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F. Set a cooling rack over a baking sheet and place a paper towel over the rack. Carefully add half the balls, one at a time, and fry, turning occasionally, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the balls to the prepared rack. Repeat with the remaining balls.
• Transfer the cooled sauce to a blender, add 1 cup water and process until smooth. Transfer the sauce back to the saucepan. Add the cream and kasoori methi if using and heat over medium heat until simmering. It should have the consistency of a smooth carrot soup; Add more water, if needed, and adjust the salt to taste.
• Gently add the fried kofta and heat, occasionally shaking the pan gently to coat the balls, until hot, about 3 minutes.
• For serving: Garnish with the garam masala and cilantro leaves.

KASHMIRI LAMB CURRY WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• 1. In a small bowl, soak the saffron threads in the cream about 30 minutes, or until needed.2. Heat the oil in a large nonstick wok or saucepan over medium-high heat and add the cloves, cinnamon, and asafoetida, then add the lamb, fennel, cayenne pepper, ginger, and salt. Add the yogurt, a little at a time, stirring constantly to prevent it from curdling, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until all the yogurt is absorbed and the meat starts to brown, 15 to 20 minutes.3. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook, adding a tablespoon of water every time the meat gets sticks to the bottom of the pan, until the meat is well-browned, about 20 minutes.4. Add the water and cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until the meat is fork-tender, the sauce is thick and almost clinging to the pieces, and all the oil has separated to the sides, 10 to 15 minutes. (If the meat is not tender, add about 1/2 cup more water, cover the pan, and simmer on low heat until soft.) Spoon out all the excess oil, transfer to a serving dish, add the saffron-cream, and swirl lightly to mix, with parts of it visible as a garnish. Sprinkle the garam masala on top and serve.From "1,000 Indian Recipes." Copyright 2002 by Neelam Batra. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

BAKED KOFTA BALLS IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 400'F.
• Coat the bottom of a 9x13 inch oven proof dish or pan with the 2 tablespoons of olive oil so all of it is well covered. If you want to use more then do, these balls will stick to the bottom.
• Grate the cauliflower and cabbage. I used my food processor and it saved a lot of time.
• Put all the other ingredients except the olive oil in a large bowl and add the grated cauliflower and cabbage. Mix until well combined.
• Let the mixture sit for about 20-30 minutes so the moisture from the veggies is absorbed by the flour, this will ensure that the mixture will stick together and you can roll it into balls.
• Roll into 1 inch balls. I found squeezing them back and forth in my hands worked well.
• Place the Kofta balls in the oiled casserole dish.
• Drizzle a little more olive oil over each Kofta ball.
• Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. The Kofta should be a nice golden colour when you remove them.
• Let them cool for a few minutes. If they stick gently slide a spatula under each ball to remove.
• Put the Kofta balls in another dish.
• Spread 1/2 of the jar of pasta sauce in the bottom of the casserole dish. Place the Kofta balls on the sauce.
• Pour the rest of the sauce on top. I added a little water to the jar to get the rest of the sauce out. Let them sit for about one hour. The Kofta balls will absorb the sauce very well.
• You can reheat the Kofta balls in the microwave or in the oven.
• Bon Apetit!