VEGETABLE KOFTA CURRY

A perfect recipe for all occasions, which goes well with all Indian breads and rice is kofta curry. Koftas are the deep fried dumplings made with single vegetable or a combination of different veggies. The name comes combined with the veggie name or the ingredient used such as potato kofta, lauki kofta, cabbage kofta, palak kofta, malai kofta and so on. Here I give a simple vegetable kofta recipe where the deep fried vegetable dumplings are cooked in a tomato onion gravy with mild masala.    
INGREDIENTS
KOFTAS

• Boiled potatoes                       2 small
• Boiled carrots                          2 small
• Boiled peas                             1/4 cup
• Shredded cabbage                  1/4 cup
• Paneer                                    3 Tsp grated
• Ginger garlic paste                 1 tsp
• Gram flour                               3 Tsp
• rice flour                                 2 Tsp
• Cashews                                 5 finely chopped
• Green chilies                          2 finely chopped
• Salt                                         to taste
• Oil                                          for frying koftas

GRAVY

• Onion                                     1 large
• Tomatoes                               2 large
• Ginger garlic paste                 2 tsp
• Jeera                                      1 tsp
• Cream                                     2 Tsp
• Cashew paste                         2 Tsp
• Sugar                                       1 tsp
• Coriander powder                   1/4 tsp
• Red chilly powder                   1 Tsp
• Jeera powder                         1/4 tsp
• Garam masala                          1/2 tsp
• Coriander leaves                     2 Tsp
• Salt                                         to taste
• Turmeric                                 1/4 tsp
• Oil                                          3 Tsp

PROCEDURE
Mash the boiled potatoes, carrots, peas. Alternatively you can grate the boiled veggies. Now mix the shredded cabbage, paneer into the mashed veggies. Add some salt, Chopped chilies, cashew nuts, some coriander leaves, 1 tsp of ginger garlic paste, gram flour and rice flour. Mix well. You can also use some raisins if you like the taste. Make small balls and deep fry them in hot oil and keep aside.
Chop the onion and blanch the tomatoes. Remove the skin on the tomatoes and grind the onions and tomatoes to fine paste.
In a pan heat 3 table spoons of oil and add the ginger garlic paste. When it is done add the tomato- onion paste. Fry till the mixture oozes out the oil. Add the cashew paste and fry for another minute. Slowly add the dry spice powders one after another……. salt, chilly powder,turmeric, jeera powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder. Add the fried koftas, cream and coriander leaves and mix gently. Switch off the flame and serve immediately with roti or nan or rice.
TIPS

• Alternatively bake the koftas instead of deep frying to reduce the calories.
• Do not let the koftas soak in gravy for long time. Combine the gravy and koftas just before serving.
• Whole milk can be added instead of cream.