Ras Malai/Cheese dumplings in milk sauce

Ras Malai is a popular dessert in India which is said to be originated in Orissa. Ras Malai is combination of two words : Ras which means Juicy and Malai which means cream or fat. If made properly this dish taste awfully good and melts in your mouth.Give it a try!!

Ingredients

Ricotta Cheese made fresh (or use 7 to 8 oz of store bought cheese)
4 cups Water
2 cups Sugar

For Milk Mixture

3 cups whole milk
4 tbsp sugar
1 tsp elaichi/Cardamom powder

Garnish

couple saffron strands
2 tbsp silvered almonds
2 tbsp chopped pistachios

Method

Knead the cheese by rubbing hard with your palm . Knead till your palm feels little greasy and till you are able to form firm balls out of the cheese. Now make small balls out of the cheese and press each ball into a small patty. Keep aside.

In a pressure cooker pan add sugar and water.

Give it a stir and bring it to a boil. Add the cheese patties to the sugar mixture and close the lid.

Cook for 1 whistle. If you make the cheese right the patties will puff up almost double the size. Set the pressure cooker aside till the pressure is off.

 Meanwhile in sauce pan bring the milk to a boil. Boil the milk till the milk reduces to 2 cups. Keep stirring occasionally. Once the milk is reduced add in the cardamom powder, couple of saffron strands, cheese patties from sugar syrup without any syrup and turn off the heat. Let it cool for couple of minutes.

Then garnish with almonds, Pistachios and more saffron strands. Refrigerate for atleast an hour before serving.

Note

Saffron strands are optional.
Instead of patties make the cheese into balls and drop into sugar mixture. Those are called rasgullas :)..