Home-made Rasmalai.

Rasmalai or Rasamalai is a popular Bengali dessert. It takes some time and effort to prepare but tastes great. It is a light and healthier sweet, as it is cooked by boiling method and not deep fried.

Ingredients for Flattened Paneer discs

Full cream milk-1 liter

Maida/ All purpose flour-1tsp

Ghee-1tsp

Sugar-400gms

Water-1cup

Lemon juice-1 to 2tsp

Ingredients for Flavored milk

Full cream milk-1/2 liter

Saffron strands-8

Cardamom powder-1tsp

Sugar-250gms

Roasted and Minced Almonds, Pistachios and Cashews

Method

In a large pot bring 1 liter full cream milk to boil. When boiling add lemon juice to make the milk curdle. Strain the curdled milk in a muslin cloth and squeeze well to remove the excess water. Add paneer( curdled milk) and maida to  bowl, make a loose dough combining both. Divide the dough into equal portions, grease palms with ghee. Make smooth balls and flatten into discs with palms.

In a deep pan, add 400gms of sugar and 1 cup of water. Mix well until the sugar dissolves completely, bring sugar mixture to boil. Boil for about 10 mins and bring the sugar syrup to room temperature. 

Next boil enough water in a large pot, when boiling add the prepared paneer discs. At first the paneer discs will sink in the boiling water and will raise slowly to the top when the paneer discs are cooked. Drain the paneer discs from the boiling water and add it to the sugar syrup. Allow the paneer discs to soak in sugar syrup for about 2 hours.

For making flavored milk. In a deep pan add 1/2 liter full cream milk, saffron and sugar. Mix well till the sugar is well dissolved in the milk, bring the mixture to boil until the milk slightly thickens. Add the cardamom powder and minced nuts. Bring the flavored milk to room temperature.

Now add the soaked paneer discs to flavored milk, allow the paneer discs to soak in the flavored milk for at least one hour. Refrigerate the Rasmalai and serve cold.

Sending this recipe to Radhika's "Cook for yourself" event.