{{Short description|Type of clotted cream from India}} {{other uses}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} '''Malai''' (Hindi: मलाई) is a type of clotted cream, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is used in the cuisine of the Indian subcontinent, especially in sweets from the Indian subcontinent.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tamime |first1=Adnan Y. |title=Dairy Fats and Related Products |date=2009 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=9781444316230 |page=128 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9h9dnGz7aP0C&q=malai+%22clotted+cream%22&pg=PA128 |accessdate=6 November 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Gupta |first1=Niru |title=Cooking The U.P. Way |date=2001 |publisher=Orient Blackswan |isbn=9788125015581 |page=xii |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fNXSe1mYhg8C&q=malai+%22clotted+cream%22&pg=RA2-PR1 |accessdate=6 November 2019 |language=en}}</ref> It is made by heating non-homogenized whole milk 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.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gupta|first=Mamta|title=Butter Making at Home|url=http://www.mamtaskitchen.com/recipe_display.php?id=13461|accessdate=16 May 2012}}</ref>
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== [[File:Ras-Malai.jpg|thumb|Ras malai, balls of chhena (paneer) soaked in malai]] Malai is a major ingredient in malai kofta dumplings and in sweet dishes like ''malai pedha'', ''ras malai'' and ''malai kulfi''.<ref name="glossary">{{cite web|url=http://www.tarladalal.com/glossary-cream-851i|title=Cream Glossary - Recipes with Cream - Tarladalal.com|website=www.tarladalal.com|access-date=15 April 2015|archive-date=19 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419014810/http://www.tarladalal.com/glossary-cream-851i|url-status=dead}}</ref> Fried koftas are made with potatoes and paneer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/malai-kofta/|title=malai kofta recipe, how to make malai kofta recipe - malai kofta curry recipe|date=4 May 2013|publisher=}}</ref> 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.<ref name="glossary"/>
==See also== * Kaymak * Qishta * Kulfi * Mascarpone
==References== {{reflist}}
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Category:Indian dairy products Category:Pakistani cuisine Category:Indian cuisine