Vegan Malai Kofta Indian Dumplings In Curry Tomato Cream Sauce Food

VEGAN MALAI KOFTA: INDIAN DUMPLINGS IN CURRY TOMATO CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• First cook the potatoes for the kofta. Peel and cut the potatoes in half, then place them in a pot and cover with water. Place a lid on the pot and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Turn the heat to medium and let boil for 10-15 minutes until the potatoes are fully cooked and easily pierced with a fork. Drain the hot water from the potatoes, mash them until smooth, and set aside.
• While the potatoes are cooking, start the curry tomato cream sauce. In a large heavy bottomed pot add the onion, canned tomatoes and their juices, cashews, garlic, ginger, garam masala, turmeric, cayenne, and salt. If you are using fenugreek seeds instead of kasoori methi, also add the fenugreek seeds at this point. Cover the pot and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Let simmer covered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Transfer the onion and tomato mixture to a blender and blend until smooth, making sure to vent so hot air doesn't build up in the blender. Alternatively, you can use an immersion blender, but the final sauce will not be as silky smooth. Pour the creamy mixture back into the pot and add the coconut milk, reserving ~1/4 cup back to serve and crush the methi in your fingers and add to the pot. Mix together and cover the pot and set aside until the kofta are ready.
• In a large mixing bowl, mash the tofu by squeezing it in your hands until it's creamy and no chunks remain. You want to have the texture of ricotta. Alternatively you can blend it in a small food processor until smooth.
• Add the mashed potatoes to the mashed tofu along with the corn starch, minced cilantro, lemon juice, garam masala, and salt. Mix together and test the consistency by forming some into a ball. It should hold together. It can stick to your hands a little, but if it is very sticky or too wet and falling apart, you can add a bit more corn starch. This can vary depending on what brand and variety of tofu you use, but the recipe is quite flexible. Mix in the frozen peas. Shape the kofta mixture into heaping 1 tablespoon portions and roll into balls or into a football shape (a torpedo).
• To fry the kofta: Heat about 2-inches of high heat safe oil in a heavy bottomed pot over medium-low heat. Test the oil either with a thermometer until it is 325-350 ºF or you can test with a small piece of the kofta mixture: the oil should bubble/boil vigorously around it and the kofta should float to the surface fairly quickly after being dropped in. When the oil is heated fry the shaped kofta in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pan, until the kofta is a beautiful dark golden brown color, flipping halfway through for even cooking. This should take 5-10 minutes, depending on the temperature of your oil, how much oil you have heated (more oil means the temperature is more stable when you add the kofta), and how many kofta you add at once. When the kofta are cooked, transfer to a paper towel lined plate with a wire spider strainer. Repeat with remaining batched of kofta until all are cooked.
• To bake the kofta: Preheat the oven to 425 ºF. Line a baking tray with parchement and spray or brush with oil. Arrange the shaped kofta onto the baking tray so there is 1/2-1" between each kofta. Spray or brush the tops with oil. Bake for 30-40 minutes, flipping after the first 15-20 minutes, until both sides are golden and the edges of the kofta are crispy and chewy. It's normal for the kofta to lose their shape a little and flatten when baked.
• When ready to serve, pour the sauce overtop the kofta (only use what you will eat in one sitting, as the kofta get soggy once in the sauce), then pour the reserved coconut milk over top the kofta. Garnish with cilantro if desired. Enjoy with Indian flatbread and/or basmati rice.

VEGAN DUMPLINGS IN CREAMY TOMATO CURRY

Steps:

• Spoon 1/2 cup of the thick cream off the top of the can of coconut into a medium bowl and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add half the onion and cook, stirring, until soft and translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste, garam masala, coriander, curry powder, mustard, cumin and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook until the tomato paste is brick red, about 1 minute more.
• Stir in 1/4 cup water, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Add the crushed tomatoes and the remaining liquid from the can of coconut milk into the pan. Bring to a simmer and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
• Add the remaining onion, the cilantro, chickpea flour, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the bowl with the coconut cream and mix until well combined.
• Once the oil is shimmering but not smoking, working in batches, use a small ice-cream scoop or a tablespoon to form round dumplings from the chickpea flour mixture and gently add to them to the oil. Fry the dumplings, flipping them halfway through, until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
• Divide the rice between plates or bowls and top with dumplings and creamy curry sauce. Garnish with more cilantro. Serve and enjoy!