Malai Kofta – A classic north Indian dish, often served in restaurants; is made with deep-fried vegetable dumplings{koftas} that are tossed in a creamy tomato based sauce.
The traditional malai kofta recipe is a 2-step process. First, the kofta/dumplings are made using assorted vegetables and cheese or ground meat, spices and then deep fried. The dumplings are then added to a creamy tomato based sauce. The result is a melt in the mouth, delectable dish that can be enjoyed with steamed rice or Indian bread. Do check out my recipe for the Chicken Kofta curry recipe.
The secret ingredient in this malai kofta recipe that makes it super fast are the GRÖNSAKSBULLAR veggie meatballs from IKEA. They are made with chickpeas, green peas, kale, corn, onion, red peppers and pea protein. Update – I also LOVE Trader Joe’s meatless meatballs in this recipe and enjoy serving it over naan as Naan Pizza!
A few weeks back a friend of mine made an incredibly delicious Punjabi Kadhi with vegetable balls in her Instant Pot. When I told her how much I loved it, she brought me a huge bag of frozen vegetable balls from IKEA! Yes, the Swedish furniture store! These veggie balls looked great and I could not wait to try them.
Last Friday, while I was debating between a take out and cooking something quick, I decided to put the vegetable balls to test in my InstaPot. I used the healthy and easy butter chicken sauce recipe, tossed the frozen veggie balls and cooked for a minute. The result was a big bowl of yumminess that my boys wiped out in no time.
Step by step recipe for EASY Malai Kofta in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker:
- Set Instant Pot on Saute(More) mode and heat ghee. Add onions and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook until onions are soft and translucent for 2 minutes (with a glass lid on to speed this process). Add ginger, garlic, turmeric and red chili powder. Mix well. Separate the coconut cream and water. Keep the coconut cream aside. Add only the watery portion of coconut milk and pureed tomatoes mixing with spices.
- Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to sealing position. Cook on Manual / Pressure Cook (Hi) for 4 minutess followed by quick release. Open the Instant Pot, allow to cool for a couple of minutes. Using a hand blender, carefully blend the sauce until smooth. Stir in tomato paste, garam masala, fenugreek leaves and sugar.
- Add frozen veggie balls. Close Instant Pot lid with sealing and cook on Manual(Hi) for 1 minute, followed by quick release. You can also simply cook the veggie balls on sauté mode for 5 minutes or until heated through. Add the coconut cream and gently stir everything together. Garnish with cilantro. Enjoy with steamed rice, parathas or as a sauce and topping on homemade pizzas.
If you do not have IKEA near you, I would suggest trying your local grocery store like Trader Joe’s or Wegmans for other meatless meatball options, paneer or tofu as a substitute!
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A classic north Indian dish, often served in restaurants; is made with deep fried vegetable dumplings{koftas} that are tossed in a creamy tomato based sauce.
- 2 tablespoons ghee
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated
- 1 tablespoon fresh garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 tablespoon Kashmiri red chili powder or any mild red chili powder
- 3 plum tomatoes pureed
- 1 can coconut milk regular and not low fat
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon garam masala or to taste
- 2 tablespoons dried fenugreek leaves
- 2 teaspoon sugar
- 24 frozen vegetable balls IKEA, Trader Joe's or similar brands
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped, for garnish
Set Instant Pot on Saute(More) mode and heat ghee. Add onions and 1 tsp salt. Cook until onions are soft and translucent for 2 mins (with a glass lid on to speed this process)
Add ginger, garlic, turmeric and red chili powder. Mix well. Separate the coconut cream and water. Keep the coconut cream aside. Add only the watery portion of coconut milk and pureed tomatoes mixing with spices.
Close Instant Pot with pressure valve to sealing position. Cook on Manual / Pressure Cook (Hi) for 4 minutess followed by quick release.
- Open the Instant Pot, allow to cool for a couple of minutes. Using a hand blender, carefully blend the sauce until smooth. Stir in tomato paste, garam masala, fenugreek leaves and sugar.
Add frozen veggie balls. Close Instant Pot lid with sealing and cook on Manual(Hi) for 1 minute, followed by quick release. You can also add the veggie meatballs and cook them on saute mode for 5 minutes or until heated through.
Add the coconut cream and gently stir everything together. Garnish with cilantro. Enjoy with steamed rice, parathas or as a sauce and topping on homemade pizzas.
Recipe Video
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Author: Archana
Hey there! I am a techie turned recipe developer, cooking instructor, and food blogger. I love food and enjoy developing easy and healthy recipes for busy lifestyles. I live New Jersey with my husband and two sons.
Coincidentally, I made something very similar for lunch today except that I used leftover dal vada for the kofta. Your recipe looks delicious!
Yum! Daal vada in kofta curry sounds delish. What was the base for your curry sauce?
It was a tomato based sauce with coconut milk.
Sounds Delish!
Can I use half and half instead? I’m assuming I would just replace it with coconut milk
Yes half and half will work
If I wanted to substitute tofu and/or paneer, how much would I use? I have both in my pantry.
I would put 3 cups of paneer or tofu. And use the same steps as that for the veggie balls.
looks great Archana
Thank you Lathiya!
Great recipe Archana. And what a great idea with the IKEA veggie balls. I am visiting my kids, of course with the instapot in the trunk of my car. I made this and it was a hit with my family. Archana do keep sharing these wonderful recipes.
Hi Kalyani! Oh wow, you are traveling with your instapot! Very lucky family to have all yummy food cooked by you. I love those meatballs. They taste yummy in kadhi too. Thank you for your feedback as always?
I’ve been using Ikea vegan meatballs in Veg Kofta for almost all my potlucks in the past 6 months:) I’ve also made a yummy veg manchurian dish with it. I put them on my pizza oven for 5 – 6 mins before I put them in my dishes. They get a little bit of a crunch and taste fresh. I always stock two or three big bags in my freezer. They are so versatile.
Good idea to bake them for a few minutes for a yummy and crunchy snack! I will have to try that soon. Thank you!
Hello,
Thanks for sharing! Can I double the recipe in my 6 Qt Instant Pot? Do you think it would compromise the dish in any way?
Hi Mark! Doubling recipe works well. Saute the onions for a bit longer and then Follow same pressure cooking time.
This was incredible. Malai Kafka is my favorite Indian dish and now I have a quick way to make it thanks to you!!!
So happy to hear this Cara!! I am glad you enjoyed this easy and healthy version of malai kofta!
Hi Archana…will using coconut milk give a sweet flavor?
Hi Puneeta! I use unsweetened coconut milk. It does not have any sweetness.
Hi archana..I am preparing this for a party want to prepare this 2 days ahead. When should I add the cream and veggie balls?
Hi Puneeta! Make the sauce 2 days ahead. Add the veggie balls on the day of the party. 5-6 hours in advance should be good.
What abt the cream?
Add it with the kofta!
Can’t wait to try this!
Let me know how you like it, Ranj!!
Hi! I have tried three of your recipes thus far and they have all been amazing, thank u! I would love to make this one, however my local IKEA is out of the vegetable balls
Hi! Thank you for your feedback. I am happy to hear that you are enjoying my recipes. You can add potatoes(1 inch cubes) instead of veggie balls and cook for 4 mins. Then quick release, add paneer and either saute for 5 mins or pressure cook for another 1 min and then quick release. It will be delicious!! Let me know
I’m excited to make this! Would the cooking time be the same even if I used beef meatballs?
Hi Theresa, This recipe uses cooked frozen meatballs. As long as the beef meatballs are precooked you should be fine with the same cook time. Let me know how it goes for you.
Thanks! I am going to cook the ground beef meatballs in the sauce for 12 minutes high pressure and quick release! I let you know how they turn out!
Sounds good! Thank you.
This is simply amazingly good. I used Trader Joe’s Meatless Meatballs, as there is no Ikea nearby. The sauce was the equal of any I have had in very good Indian restaurants. The meatballs were OK. Obviously, to match the finest real Indian cooking you would need to make them from scratch, but for something quick to cook at home, this recipe is terrific. Thank you!
One small note: at our altitude (7000′), I needed to add some water after putting in the meatballs, and even then there was a small amount of scorching on the bottom of the pot. I may increase the liquid next time.
Hi Alan! Thank you for your detailed feedback. I am so glad you tried this recipe. I agree that homemade meatballs would be SO much better. Also if you enjoyed this sauce do try the butter chicken recipe, it uses the same exact sauce. I am not sure if the altitude would make difference with water, but do add few extra tablespoons of water next time!
This was the first of your recipes I’ve tried – amazing! What a great sauce, I just wish I had doubled it! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
Thank you for your lovely feedback. I am glad you enjoyed it
Hi Archana, I have tried couple of your recipes and they turned out very well. Can’t wait to try this recipe. Have a question, how do you separate coconut milk solids/cream and water? Thanks.
Keep the coconut milk can in the fridge for a few hours. Cream will come to the top. When you open carefully take the cream out and reserve.
Hi Archana,
Is there a healthier substitute for the coconut milk that you’ve found?
Use water for cooking the sauce and cashew cream later
This turned out perfect. Thank you so much!
Thanks for the feedback. Happy to hear that you enjoyed the flavors.
Hi… love your recipes.. can i omit tomato paste?
Yes! you can skip tomato paste.
Hi Archana, I do not plan on using 2 ingredients… Onion and Tomato paste. What should I substitute it with ?
You can skip both. Use 4 plum tomatoes pureed.
hi!!! I made this tonight and looooooooved it. thank you so much for the recipe! the only issue I had was the pan scortching before putting in the coconut cream part. any suggestions?
Hi Lita, You can add extra 1/4 cup of liquids next time. Or make sure that all the liquids are not evaporating before you close the Instant Pot for the pressure cooking cycle. You can also press cancel if you need time to mix everything before closing the lid for pressure cooking.
Love this recipe exactly as written! Would this freeze well? I would add the veg balls once reheated. We like to cook them in the oven for some crunch 🙂
Thank you and yes you can make a big batch of just the sauce and freeze. It works really well. Then add the veg balls as needed.
This recipe is just genius. LOVED it. I’ve been missing malai kofta’s ever since I went vegan since they’re most often not vegan at Indian restaurants, and they’re just too much effort to make from scratch (especially with a very busy toddler wanting your attention LOL). Thank you so much, it was soooo good!
Hi Shruthi, Thank you for your lovely feedback. I am glad you enjoyed the flavors. And now that you have the veggie meatballs, you might want to try the veggie manchurian recipe too. It is absolutely delicious.
Hi Archana…………..Veggie Kofta recipe is amazing…………..every time I make it people love it and have been asking for recipe and I have been directing them to your website:-)
This recipe is effortless with IKEA veggie balls and thank you so much for this lovely and yummy recipe.
You are most welcome Vimmi! Please do rate the recipe. Have you tried making Veggie Manchurian with the IKEA veggie balls? That comes out yummy too.
Hi. This looks so good, and I have been looking for a dish to make with my IKEA veggie balls that have been waiting in my freezer for me to know what to do with them. I don’t have an instant pot, however. What modifications would need to be made to make this sauce on the stovetop and add it over the baked veggie balls? Thanks in advance!
Hi Danielle, You can easily do this recipe on stovetop. Just saute and cook the onions until translucent. Then add ginger and garlic and cook for 2 mins. Then add remaining ingredients and bring it to boil for 2 mins.
Great; thank you! Wasn’t sure if anything else would change. Am trying it tonight!
Great! Let me know how you like it!
Wondering how this would work with cashew cream instead of coconut milk?
It will work equally good!
The salad you served with the naan pizza looks delicious. Could you please share the ingredients/recipe? Thank you.
Trader Joe’s spring salad mix, cucumber, carrots and sprinkled nuts and sesame seeds
Also Trader Joe’s dressing but olive oil and balsamic vinegar works well too