Saffron Curdled Milk Patties Food

PAPPARDELLE IN SAFFRON CREAM

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and saffron and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallot is softened, about 2 minutes. Add the cream, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste; increase the heat to medium high and simmer until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and vanilla.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook as the label directs. Remove 1/4 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and transfer to the skillet with the sauce. Add the reserved cooking water, the parmesan and half of the chives and toss to coat. Serve topped with the lemon zest, remaining chives and more cheese.

CARAMELIZED MILK BALLS IN THICK SYRUP

Steps:

• 1. Prepare the paneer cheese in advance. Prepare the dough for milk rolls. Then, in a food processor, process the paneer cheese and the milk roll dough until the mixture gathers into a ball that does not stick to the sides of the bowl.2. Place about 2 tablespoons sugar in a small dish. Then, with lightly buttered clean hands, shape the dough into 15 smooth, crack-free balls. Roll each ball in the sugar.3. Heat the shortening in a large heavy wok over medium-high heat until it reaches 325°F on a frying thermometer or until a piece of dough dropped into the hot oil rises to the top after 30 to 40 seconds. Do not make the oil any hotter the kaala jaams need to be fried long and slow. (If you can, leave the thermometer in the wok and carefully monitor the temperature as you cook, it should remain between 275°F to 325°F. Turn off the heat if it goes any higher.) Add half the kaala jaams and fry, stirring and turning gently with a slotted spatula, until they are very dark brown, about 7 minutes. Remove to paper towels to drain.4. Place the remaining sugar, water, and cardamom pods in a large skillet or wok and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to medium-low and simmer, about 5 minutes. Add the fried balls to the syrup and continue to simmer until the kaala jaams soak up the syrup, swell and become soft, and the sugar syrup becomes very thick and almost evaporates, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish, sprinkle the cardamom seeds on top and serve hot or at room temperature.VARIATION: There are many ways to serve kaala jaams: rolled in sweetened shredded coconut cut in half and dusted on the cut or the round sides with a sprinkling of dessert masala (this gives you twice as many pieces) or cut into halves or quarters and served in a pool of rabdi (Traditional Thickened Milk Pudding, see Desserts) garnished with some dessert masala.

PANEER CHEESE PATTIES IN CREAMY THICKENED MILK

Steps:

• 1. Prepare the paneer cheese in advance. Soak the saffron threads in the milk about 30 minutes. Prepare the dessert masala. Then place the paneer cheese and the flour in a food processor and process until it's smooth and starts to gather into a soft and pliable dough (just before it forms a ball). Divide the dough equally into 8 portions and shape each portion into 1 1/2-inch patties that are free from cracks. This should be done between the palms of your clean hands, applying gentle pressure as you shape them. Cover and set aside.2. Place the water, sugar, cardamom pods, and cardamom seeds in a pressure cooker and bring to a boil over high heat. Turn off the heat and add the cheese patties. Secure the lid of the pressure cooker, place it over high heat, and cook until the regulator indicates high pressure, then cook about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and allow the pot to depressurize on its own, 12 to 15 minutes. Carefully open the lid of the pressure cooker, transfer about 1 cup of the syrup to a saucepan, and simmer until it is reduced by about half. Reserve. Mix 1 cup boiling water into the contents of the pressure cooker and set it aside to cool.3. Meanwhile, heat the half-and-half (or more). Mix in the reduced sugar syrup. Taste and add more sugar, if needed.4. When the patties are cool enough to handle, lightly squeeze them to remove most of the liquid, and add the patties to the thickened milk sauce. Mix in the saffron-infused milk and the saffron, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer another minute. Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with the silver leaves (if using), sprinkle the dessert masala on top, cover, and refrigerate at least 6 hours before serving.From "1,000 Indian Recipes." Copyright 2002 by Neelam Batra. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.