Malai (
Hindi:
मलाई,
Urdu: ) is a type of
clotted cream
Clotted cream ( kw, dehen molys, sometimes called scalded, clouted, Devonshire or Cornish cream) is a thick cream made by heating full-cream cow's milk using steam or a water bath and then leaving it in shallow pans to cool slowly. During this t ...
, originating from the
Indian subcontinent, used in the
cuisine of the Indian subcontinent, especially, in regards to
sweets from the Indian subcontinent
Mithai (sweets) are the confectionery and desserts of the Indian subcontinent.[whole milk
Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digest solid food. Immune factors and immune-modulating ...]
to about 80 °C (180 °F) for about one hour and then cooling it. A thick yellowish layer of
fat and coagulated
proteins forms on the surface, which is skimmed off. The process is usually repeated to remove most of the fat.
Malai has about 55% butterfat. Buffalo milk is thought to produce better malai because of its high fat content. Buffalo milk with fat contents varying from 5 to 12% is boiled and then cooled down to 4 °C (39 °F) for best results. Similarly, cow's milk with milk fat from 3 to 5% is boiled and cooled to make malai.
Uses
Malai is a major ingredient in malai
kofta dumplings and in sweet dishes like ''malai
pedha'', ''
ras malai'' and ''malai
kulfi''.
Fried koftas are made with potatoes and
paneer.
The flavour becomes even richer when vegetables are added to it. An example of this would be ''methi matar malai'' where the main constituent is green peas.
See also
*
Kaymak
*
Qishta
''Qishta'' ( ar, قِشْطَة, qišṭa, ), also known as ''kishta'', ''kashta '', ''ghishta'', or ''ashta'', is a dairy coagulated milk product prepared from heated fresh milk and consumed as a dessert. It is sometimes scented with orange flo ...
*
Kulfi
References
{{Authority control
Indian dairy products
Pakistani cuisine
Indian cuisine