Ras Malai: A Taste of Punjabi Sweetness 🌸 🍳

Ingredients 🥄

For the Rasgulla (Cheese Patties):
Full-fat milk: 4 cups
Lemon juice or vinegar: 2 tablespoons (for curdling)
Semolina (sooji): 1 teaspoon
Sugar: 1 cup
Water: 4 cups
For the Ras (Sweetened Milk):
Full-fat milk: 4 cups
Sugar: ½ cup (adjust to your taste)
Saffron strands: A pinch
Cardamom powder: ¼ teaspoon
Pistachios and almonds, slivered: For garnish

Instructions 📋

Making the Rasgulla:
First, bring the 4 cups of milk to a boil in a heavy-bottomed pot. Once boiling, reduce the heat and add the lemon juice or vinegar, a little at a time, until the milk curdles.
Strain the curdled milk through a cheesecloth or fine-mesh sieve. Rinse the paneer (cheese) thoroughly with cold water to remove any lemon juice flavor.
Squeeze out all the excess water from the paneer. Then, knead the paneer with the semolina until it forms a smooth, soft dough. This is crucial for soft rasgullas!
Divide the paneer dough into small, equal-sized balls and gently flatten them into patties.
In a separate pot, combine the 1 cup sugar and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil and then gently drop the paneer patties into the boiling syrup.
Cover the pot and cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until the rasgullas have doubled in size. Be careful not to overcook them!
Remove the rasgullas from the syrup and gently squeeze out any excess syrup. Set them aside.
Making the Ras:
In another pot, bring the 4 cups of milk to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 30-40 minutes, or until the milk has thickened slightly. Keep stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Add the sugar, saffron strands, and cardamom powder to the simmering milk. Stir well until the sugar dissolves.
Now, gently add the rasgullas to the thickened milk. Simmer for another 5-10 minutes, allowing the rasgullas to soak up the flavors.
Allow the Ras Malai to cool completely and then refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together beautifully.
Garnish with slivered pistachios and almonds before serving. Enjoy this traditional Punjabi sweet with your loved ones! 💖