Paneer Kofta (Stuffed Cheese Balls)
Soft Indian cheese filled with cream, cashews, raisins and deep fried for a delightful snack.
Koftas/koftes/keftes/kufta/cufta – different names for a similar item, have a prominent presence over many cuisines; Arabic, Persian, Africa, South Asian and also the cuisine of the Eastern Europe have their own variation of koftas. The concept of the kofta/kufteh/köfte/kufta/ćufta is that a ground form of particular ingredients,(mostly meat) are spiced, rolled into a certain shape, and then either deep fried, or baked or grilled. India, being known for extensive vegetarian diet – create and cook the koftas in a lot of innovative vegetarian ways. In some medley of vegetables are used, while some use a combination of paneer/cottage cheese and vegetables and then they are cooked in different kinds of sauces with different spices and herbs.
These paneer koftas are merely an introduction to the classic North Indian dish: Malai Kofta – the paneer koftas simmered in a creamy tomato sauce. The paneer koftas were actually done here for a more complex blend of recipe, which I will post soon (Update recipe for Malai Kofta:, but the koftas can of course be served as starters; thin crisp coating on the outside, melt in the mouth and creamy inside with more surprises as you bite into a sweet raisin, the cashew,the sweet carrot or even the spicy tingle of the pepper – these stuffed koftas are scrumptious just by themselves. As you can well assume, I always make extras of these to be enjoyed as appetizers.
I have been missing in action again, I know. When the reader reaches more than 750 posts in 10 days, I think it is time to apologize. I have not been visiting and leaving comments in any of your kitchen, so please excuse me. I think this freaky schedule of mine is going to continue for few months to come. I will be posting occasionally from the drafts. It is not that we are not cooking, I just have not been getting time to edit and prepare a post.
So for now, enjoy these koftas with your favorite condiment!
Paneer Kofta (Stuffed Cheese Balls)
Ingredients: (makes about 30-35 koftas)
- 12 oz Paneer (Homemade Indian Cheese)
- 2 medium sized potatoes (pick on the smaller size), boiled, peeled, & mashed
- 2.5 heap full tablespoons corn flour/corn starch ( I have used this to bind the koftas)
- 1 teaspoon garam masala (optional) – homemade or store bought
- salt
- oil to deep fry
For Stuffing:
- 1/2 carrot, grated very fine
- a fist full cashews, chopped
- a fist full raisins
- 2 tablespoons shredded ginger
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
- few green chili peppers, very finely chopped
- few tablespoons heavy cream
Note on the stuffing:
- The above is an estimate of the proportions. There may be left overs after stuffing the balls.
- This is the kind of stuffing traditionally used. Use you own kind and your own proportions as per your taste.
Preparation:
Grate the fresh paneer; combine boiled potatoes, salt, garam masala, and corn flour/corn starch with the paneer in a big bowl and mash them till there are no lumps. The mix should be really smooth. Do not add any water or any kind of other liquid.
Divide into 30-35 portions (approximate number – so you get the idea of what size they are going to be). Roughly roll them into balls (it helps to wet or grease your hands while doing this).
Make a dent with your thumb, deep enough to stuff them.
Fill each of them with a little bit of every item in the “stuffing”. (I use a couple of raisins, half a nut, a small pinch of carrots, a couple of drops of cream.. etc) Close back the dough and gently roll it back into a ball, making sure that all the stuffing is well inside (if anything is popping out, the ball will break & splutter when deep frying). (see illustration below to how to make the dent and stuff ’em)
Heat oil till steaming. Reduce the heat to medium and deep fry the balls till they are light golden on all sides. Drain on paper towels.Serve hot and fresh with ketchup/hot sauce/any favorite condiment.
OR
Save them to make Malai Kofta ( Cheese balls simmered in creamy sauce) .
Related Posts:
Aloo Vada/Fried Potato Dumplings
Nimki – The Crunchy Little Diamond
Oh, these look awesome!! great photos.
Speechless! I want these right now. Goodness.
Crunchy goodness, can eat it as it is without the gravy
haiiii laaaa….this is heavenly good! 🙂 love the paneer stuffin’ pic.
Such a lovely post!
You are so talented with your writing. Indian food sometimes can be overwhelming for us (non-Indian) to cook at home. Your clear instruction makes it so easy and tasty! Love!
I am speechless too……such a tempting wonderful dish….bookmarked…..
Just seeing ur pic make me gain few pounds- tempting me to break my diet! Excellent appetizer!
OMG this is mouth-drooling and want to eat right now :))
I am just going over your pics again & again… love them and should be great for a rainy day we are having today.
loooks sooooooooooo good soma!! awesome.
Lord! thats all I can say. You kofta’s are the most good looking kofta’s I have seen in a while.
Cool,nice idea,should try for sure some time !
Terrific..I feel elated when I see fried thingies..lol..can’t help it, I am such a ummm..whatever !
Never thought of adding carrots to koftas..I wonder why..oh why? Next time I am making these, I will surely keep that in mind..and may be peas and beans..what say?
please come and live next to me and cook for me and stuff me with these! lol! needless to say i am loving these koftas!
Beautiful and fried so so perfect. I once thried making veg kifta and the moment the balls hit i saw them disapearing into the oil in small pieces and after tha ti have not made them any more, i just lovinf the filing in theis.
Take yor time, blog is a hobby so it is not a must you should post always.
wow, Soma…truly a masterpiece…. so perfectly done
Lovely. And somehow u’re responsible for the entire drooling crowd’s possiblly growing waistline! But soma u’re bringing all the restauarant stuff to homes and thats great! These koftas can as u said get in to th gravy if at all they could survive that long 🙂
I think adding the potatoes makes it firmer … ami shudhu cornflour diye korechi. Stuffing ta darun tasty hobe. Waiting for the gravy recipe. 🙂
I love the stuffing idea Soma. Looks beautiful
Beautiful and inviting it looks.I will eat them as itself no gravy for me. 😛
I have some gifts for you in my blog..pl. Collect
Wowwww…These looks so delicious! I can just eat them with some ketchup.
I think these are absolutely beautiful. At first glance I thought they were doughnuts! I might leave the raisins out though since I think satan made them.
A vegetarian kofta sounds fantastic! Can’t wait to see the complete dish including them.
looks soo tempting !!!
Hey Soma!!! How are you? Missed you plenty… refresh my memory about the conversation again… 🙂
Your pics just get more and more lovely everytime.
That looks pictures looks so yummy. I though cheese balls are only stuffed with cheese. The stuffing is unique. Thanks! 🙂
Can I please move in with you guys? 🙂
I will do all kind of job… pay me with food!
the paneer kofta look fantastic… just makes me want to sink my teeth into them 🙂
Tasty curry. looks very delicious. Paneer is very tasty. i look it.
Hi Soma, First time here. Paneer Kofta looks fabulous !! Love the stuffing and softness of the balls !! Beautiful clicks !!
Soma these look fantastic and very very tempting !
Here after a long time..hows u doing Soma..:)
oh my..I was wondering if its sweet or savory when I heard the name..This is such a royal recipe.I would prolly never have the nerve to deep fry it myself,but am badly craving for some now..nope..the restarunt ones wont do..Would you puhleassee send me some?? :angel face on knees:..:D:D
Soma, this top photo is beautiful, and I love the recipe (no wheat)! I might have to try this…
How absolutely delicious! I love the filling! My mouth is furiously watering…
They look soooooo good! I love the stuffing!
Cheers,
Rosa
Wow, these look fantastic! The filling sounds wonderful. What a great appetizer. Gorgeous.
I’ve tried paneer (we call cheese ‘peynir’ in Turkish) koftas at an Indian restaurant. They taste good! Yours look amazing!
beautiful beautiful pictures Soma (as usual of course). The first picture looks absolutely stunning right out of a magazine. I am not fond of paneer, but looking at the picture I would have gobbled them all.
Paneer koftas look awesome, feel like grabbing some:)
oh my gosh soma, these look amazing!
I tried your recipe for malai kofta and it was just amazing. The gravy was spot on. Thanks a ton! I just wanted to check if the koftas could be frozen too, like the makhani masala?
🙂
I have never frozen the koftas, just becoz it has potatoes in it. Potato is not a good candidate to freeze and gets soggy as you already might know. The koftas can be refrigerated in an airtight container in the fridge for about 2-3 days before they are simmered in the sauce. If you are having it as an appetizer, warm them in the oven to get the crisp back (might not be the same a freshly fried though).
Hey can you tell me if this heavy cream is available in Walmart and if it is by what name.
Yes it is available in walmart. It will be in the same place as the milk is – same isle/refrigerated cabinets. Take a few steps away from the regular milk, and they have a the half and half, whipping cream, heavy cream etc. Just ask in the stores for half & half/heavy cream if you do not find it. But it is always in and around where they have the milk. They will have bordens, walmart brand, probably horizon and schepps too. Not sure of the brand.. they have many.
I would seriously pay you to make some for me! At work my boss wanted all of us to make something or bring something in and I’m not much of a cook. 🙂 They look abolutely scrumptious
I would seriously pay you to make some for me! At work my boss wanted all of us to make something or bring something in and I’m not much of a cook. 🙂 They look absolutely scrumptious
beautiful beautiful pictures Soma (as usual of course). The first picture looks absolutely stunning right out of a magazine. I am not fond of paneer, but looking at the picture I would have gobbled them all.