Vegan Malai Kofta in White Gravy

05 Sep Vegan Malai Kofta in White Gravy

Last Updated on September 5, 2026 by blessmyfoodbypayal

Vegan Malai Kofta in White Gravy with step wise pictorial and video method.

Malai Kofta is a very popular and most lovable indian dish which is commonly made with paneer and potatoes.

But this time we are transforming this vegetarian delicacy into vegan one replacing dairy products.

Using no paneer and no cream, this vegan malai kofta recipe is such a delicious that no one is going to identify that it is made using dairy replacements.

Usually any of the kofta curry is made in yellowish gravy using red chilli powder, turmeric powder and tomatoes, but the gravy of this Indian vegan kofta curry recipe is usually white skipping all the 3 said ingredients.

It’s not that you can’t make this restaurant style vegan malai kofta in yellowish gravy but in restaurants, you will mostly find it white.

Soft and mouth melting koftas enriched with nuts soaked in rich creamy gravy is something which is hard to resist.

As paneer and cream are integral part of the traditional malai kofta recipe, by replacing paneer with tofu and skipping cream was a hard task and we were little hesitant about the final outcome, especially in terms of taste. But we took the very first bite, it was like O My God. 

Taste and texture were exactly like authentic malai kofta without any compromise. What to say of those who are unaware of the ingredients, even we, those who made this dairy free malai kofta recipe couldn’t recognise the presence of tofu and absence of cream.

Malai Kofta is such a recipe which is made on special occasions or even you are going to have a special guests for the lunch or dinner. 

And though not directly related to any festivals, but if you are hosting a meal on on occasion of festivals like Diwali or Christmas, this creamy vegan malai kofta curry can be made a part of it. 

So you can make and serve dairy free malai kofta white gravy on dinner parties, festivals, family gatherings, or special weekends.

This easy vegan malai kofta recipe goes great with naan and paratha, though can be eaten with roti as well. 

So do try this vegan kofta curry in white gravy which is one of those dishes that looks elaborate and luxurious but is achievable in your own kitchen.

Step wise pictorial recipe of Vegan Malai Kofta in White Gravy
 

MAKING OF KOFTAS

Grate tofu in a plate.

Also grate boiled potatoes. 

Add all purpose flour, salt, black pepper powder and coriander leaves.

Mix while mashing them well.

Turn it into a smooth dough.

Now take a portion of the dough at a time, depending on how many koftas you want to make and the size you prefer. Flatten it in your palm.

Put some chopped nuts in the middle.

Wrap up and make a smooth ball.

Likewise make the balls with the entire dough.

Either deep fry them or air fry. For air frying, arrange all the balls in a greased air fryer basket.

Brush them with oil.

Air fry @180°C for 12-15 minutes. The timing may vary from air fryer to air fryer and also depending upon the size of koftas.

Take out when balls turn golden brown. Koftas are ready. Even at this very stage, they can be eaten as a snack.

MAKING OF PASTE FOR GRAVY

Take a pan and add onion, melon seeds, cashews, green cardamoms, black cardamom, garlic cloves, ginger, bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, mace, coriander stems and green chilies.

Then add water.

Let it boil for 20 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool down completely.

Grind to a fine paste. Keep aside.

MAKING OF VEGAN MALAI KOFTA

Heat oil in a pan.

Add cumin seeds. Let them crackle.

Add the paste made recently.

Also add salt, coriander powder, garam masala, kasuri methi, sugar and water.

Mix well.

Let it cook for 2-3 minutes or until it reaches desired consistency.

Gravy is finally ready.

MAKING OF ROGAN

Mix kashmiri red chilli powder in a lukewarm oil. Keep aside.

SERVING

You can directly drop Koftas in the gravy but the most common and traditional way is to arrange the Koftas in a serving dish.

Drop the hot gravy over each of the koftas.

Garnish with a drizzle of rogan.

Serve hot with roti, paratha, jeera rice or naan.

NOTES

1. Firm or crumbled, all types of tofu will work for this. 
2. If don’t like nuts, you can skip them.
3. You can give any shape and size to your Koftas, be it a ball shape, round or oval.
4. Out of melon seeds and cashews, you can add any one of these but in that case, enhance the quantity of that particular ingredients.
5. As it is the white gravy, do not add red chilli powder and turmeric powder. But the same recipe can be made yellowish by adding both the said ingredients.
6. The quantity of water you will add depends upon the fact how you are going to serve the Koftas. If serving with rice, add more water and if with roti, paratha or naan, add less water. But remember, it thickens once cool down.

Vegan Malai Kofta in White Gravy – Recipe Card

Vegan Malai Kofta in White Gravy

blessmyfoodbypayal

Vegan Malai Kofta in White Gravy is a creamy, rich, and indulgent Indian curry featuring soft koftas in a mildly spiced, luscious gravy.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

1 cup = 250 ml

FOR MAKING KOFTAS

• 200 gram Tofu
• 3 boiled potatoes (medium sized)
• 3 tbsp all purpose flour (or cornstarch )
• 1 tsp black pepper powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp coriander leaves
• 2 tbsp nuts (almonds, cashews & raisins)
• Oil for air frying/deep frying

FOR MAKING PASTE FOR GRAVY

• 2 big onion (roughly cut)
• 2 tbsp melon seeds
• 8-10 cashews
• 2 green cardamoms
• 1 black cardamom
• 3-4 garlic cloves
• Small piece of ginger
• 1 bay leaf
• Small piece of cinnamon
• Small piece of mace
• 1/2 star anise
• 2 cloves
• Few coriander stems
• 3 green chilies
• 2 cups water

FOR TEMPERING

• 1 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp kasuri methi / dry fenugreek leaves
• Water to adjust consistency

FOR MAKING ROGAN

• 1 tsp lukewarm oil
• 1/4 tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder

Instructions

 

MAKING OF KOFTAS

• Grate tofu in a plate.
• Also grate boiled potatoes.
• Add all purpose flour, salt, black pepper powder and coriander leaves.
• Mix while mashing them well.
• Turn it into a smooth dough.
• Now take a portion of the dough at a time, depending on how many koftas you want to make and the size you prefer. Flatten it in your palm.
• Put some chopped nuts in the middle.
• Wrap up and make a smooth ball.
• Likewise make the balls with the entire dough.
• Either deep fry them or air fry. For air frying, arrange all the balls in a greased air fryer basket.
• Brush them with oil.
• Air fry @180°C for 12-15 minutes. The timing may vary from air fryer to air fryer and also depending upon the size of koftas.
• Take out when balls turn golden brown. Koftas are ready. Even at this very stage, they can be eaten as a snack.

MAKING OF PASTE FOR GRAVY

• Take a pan and add onion, melon seeds, cashews, green cardamoms, black cardamom, garlic cloves, ginger, bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, mace, coriander stems and green chilies.
• Then add water.
• Let it boil for 20 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool down completely.
• Grind to a fine paste. Keep aside.

MAKING OF VEGAN MALAI KOFTA

• Heat oil in a pan.
• Add cumin seeds. Let them crackle.
• Add the paste made recently.
• Also add salt, coriander powder, garam masala, kasuri methi, sugar and water.
• Mix well.
• Let it cook for 2-3 minutes or until it reaches desired consistency.
• Gravy is finally ready.

MAKING OF ROGAN

• Mix kashmiri red chilli powder in a lukewarm oil. Keep aside.

SERVING

• You can directly drop Koftas in the gravy but the most common and traditional way is to arrange the Koftas in a serving dish.
• Drop the hot gravy over each of the koftas.
• Garnish with a drizzle of rogan.
• Serve hot with roti, paratha, jeera rice or naan.

Video

Notes

1. Firm or crumbled, all types of tofu will work for this.
2. If don't like nuts, you can skip them.
3. You can give any shape and size to your Koftas, be it a ball shape, round or oval.
4. Out of melon seeds and cashews, you can add any one of these but in that case, enhance the quantity of that particular ingredients.
5. As it is the white gravy, do not add red chilli powder and turmeric powder. But the same recipe can be made yellowish by adding both the said ingredients.
6. The quantity of water you will add depends upon the fact how you are going to serve the Koftas. If serving with rice, add more water and if with roti, paratha or naan, add less water. But remember, it thickens once cool down.

Keyword vegan malai kofta, vegan malai kofta in white gravy