Best Ras Malai Recipes

RAS MALAI

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Blend the ricotta cheese and 1/4 cup sugar together in a bowl with a hand mixer; divide the mixture between 12 muffin cups.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack. Arrange the cheese balls onto a dessert platter.
• While the cheese bakes, pour the half and half into a saucepan and bring to a simmer over low heat; simmer 10 minutes. Stir 1 cup sugar, the cardamom, rose water, and saffron into the half and half and simmer another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. Drizzle the cooled mixture over the cheese balls. Sprinkle the almonds and pistachios over the cheese balls to serve.

RAS MALAI (FRESH CHEESE BALLS IN MILK SYRUP)

Steps:

• Heat 8 cups of the milk in a large kettle until it just boils. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Set aside for 5 minutes. Line a large colander with a triple layer of cheesecloth and pour the curdled milk through. Drain for 30 minutes. Lift up the cloth's edges and gently twist, wringing out as much liquid as you can.
• Turn curds out onto a smooth surface and knead for 5 minutes. Add the semolina and continue to knead until the curds are smooth and your hands feel greasy, 3 to 4 more minutes. Form the mixture into 12 balls of equal size. Set aside.
• In a saucepan, combine 2 cups of the sugar with 4 cups of water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer 5 minutes. Put the cheese balls and cardamom into the pan. Simmer uncovered until the balls swell and become spongy, about 1 hour. Remove the balls with a slotted spoon and discard the syrup and cardamom. Place the balls in another saucepan with the remaining milk and allow them to cool completely, about 15 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove the balls from the milk and set them aside. Place the saucepan with the milk over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally so it does not boil over. Simmer until the milk is reduced to 2 cups, about 1 hour. Remove from the heat, stir in the remaining sugar and the rose water and return the cheese balls to the milk. Cover and refrigerate. To serve, divide the balls between 4 bowls, spoon some of the milk syrup around them and sprinkle with the pistachios.

RAS MALAI (INDIAN CHEESE BALLS IN MILK)

Steps:

• Put the milk into a large pan with the sugar.
• Crush the cardamoms and add to the pan with the saffron.
• Simmer the mixture over a medium heat until it has been reduced by half and thickened slightly.
• Turn the heat down as low as possible under the pan.
• Beat the cottage cheese and flour together, divide into six or eight portions and roll these into balls.
• Flatten each one slightly and drop them into the pan of milk.
• Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and carefully transfer into a serving bowl.
• Cool completely, then stir in the rosewater or kewra essence.
• Chill.
• Just before serving, chop the pistacchio nuts and sprinkle over the top.