Rasmalai

Ras malai is a royal and delicious bengali dessert. Homemade paneer balls are served with rich and creamy rabdi. You can also dip store bought rasgulla in to rabdi to make that in to quick version of RasMalai

PREP TIME  : 5 mins                    COOK TIME :45 mins            TOTAL TIME :50 mins

RECIPE TYPE: dessert, sweets    CUISINE: bengali, Indian     SERVES: 5 to 6

INGREDIENTS (measuring cup used, 1 cup = 250 ml)

• 12 to 15 rasgullas, homemade or store brought ones
• 1 litre whole full fat cow milk, 4 cups
• 4 to 5 tbsp sugar or add as required
• 10 to 12 tbsp almonds, blanched
• 10 to 12 unsalted pistachios, blanched
• ½ cup water for blanching the almonds & pistachios
• ½ tsp cardamom powder
• 1 to 2 tsp rose water or kewra water
• 8 to 10 saffron strands
• a few saffron strands for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Boil ½ cup water. then add almonds & pistachios. cover and keep aside for 30 to 40 minutes.
2. After 30 minutes, peel the almonds, pistachios and slice them. keep aside.
3. When the almonds are blanching, take 1 litre of milk in a thick bottomed pan or kadai.
4. Bring the milk to a boil on medium flame.
5. Whilst the milk is coming to a boil, take 2 tbsp milk from the pan in a small bowl. let this milk
6. Become warm and then add crushed saffron strands. stir and keep aside.
7. Once the milk has come to a boil, then lower the flame and simmer the milk. collect the floating cream on the sides. Continue to cook this way till the milk is reduced to half.
8. Keep on collecting the cream which floats on the top and move it to the sides. also keep on stirring the milk at intervals so that the milk does not get scorched at the bottom.
9. Add sugar and stir well so that the sugar dissolves.
10. Then add cardamom powder.
11. Add the sliced almonds & pistachios. reserve a few almonds & pistachios for garnishing.
12. Also add the saffron dissolved milk.
13. Stir again. keep simmering the reduced milk at a low flame.
14. Meanwhile take each rasgulla and with a spatula apply pressure, so the excess sugar syrup is removed from it. You can also press the rasgulla in your palms. be gentle and don’t apply too much of pressure. as then the rasgullas will break. do this with all the rasgullas.
15. Now place the rasgullas in the simmering milk and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
16. Switch off the flame and then add 1 tsp rose water or kewra water (pandanus extract).
17. Stir gently. Cover and let the rasmalai come to a room temperature. then chill and serve garnished with some sliced almonds or pistachios and saffron strands. Serve rasmalai