Step 1

Firstly either grate or mince veggies in a food processor or a food chopper or with a grater.

Step 2

Make a coarse mince of the veggies. I have used raw green peas and minced it along with the other veggies. If you do not have a food processor or chopper, then boil or steam peas, potatoes and cauliflower separately. Drain of all the water. Then mash very well and add to finely chopped capsicum.

Step 3

If using vegetables with high water content like bottle gourd (lauki), cabbage, zucchini or pumpkin etc, then add some salt in the grated veggies. Mix very well and keep aside for 15 to 20 minutes. Then squeeze the excess water. Keep this water and add later to the gravy.

Step 4

Take the veggie mixture in a bowl.

Step 5

Add ¼ cup grated cheese or paneer. You can use cheddar cheese or processed cheese. You can also skip adding cheese or paneer.

Step 6

Then add ¼ teaspoon kashmiri red chili powder, ¼ teaspoon coriander powder, ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder and ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder, ½ cup besan and salt as per taste.

Step 7

Mix very well. If the mixture appears too light and watery, then add some more besan. Check the taste and add more spices and salt if required.

Step 8

Make small to medium sized balls from this veggie mixture. If you are not able to shape into balls, then add some water and make a pakora batter consistency. Then fry them like the way pakoras are fried.

Step 9

Heat oil for deep frying in a pan. Add a small tiny piece of the veggie ball and see if it breaks in oil or not. If it breaks or bursts in oil, then add more besan. The amount of besan to be added depends on the moisture content in the veggies.

Step 10

If the veggie ball does not break, then you can easily start frying the kofta. Keep the flame to medium and gently slid the veggie kofta balls in the hot oil. Add as much depending on the size and capacity of the kadai or pan. Do not over crowd.

Step 11

Turn only when one side is golden or else they can break.

Step 12

Turn over a couple of times for even frying. Fry till they are crisp and golden.

Step 13

Remove with a slotted spoon and place them on kitchen paper towels. Keep aside.

Step 14

In a food processor or chopper or blender/grinder jar, take 12 cashews (kaju). Add 3 tablespoons water and grind to a smooth paste. Remove cashew paste and keep aside.

Step 15

In the same processor or chopper or grinder, take 1.3 cups roughly chopped onions, 1 green chilli (chopped), ½ tablespoon roughly chopped garlic and ½ tablespoon roughly chopped ginger.

Step 16

Without adding any water, grind to a semi fine or a smooth paste. Keep aside.

Step 17

In the same processor or chopper or grinder, take 1 cup tightly packed chopped tomatoes.

Step 18

Without adding any water, grind to a semi fine or a smooth puree. Remove and keep aside.

Step 19

Heat 3 tablespoons oil or ghee in a pan or thick bottomed kadai. Add 1 tej patta, 1 inch cinnamon, 2 green cardamoms, 1 black cardamom and 2 single strands of mace. Sauté for a few seconds till the spices splutter.

Step 20

Then add the onion paste.

Step 21

Mix and begin to sauté the onion paste on a low to medium flame stirring often.

Step 22

Sautéing onion paste takes a lot of time, so add a pinch of salt to quicken the cooking process.

Step 23

Sauté till the onion paste turns golden.

Step 24

Then add the tomato puree and mix very well.

Step 25

Next add the cashew paste.

Step 26

Mix again and sauté this masala for 2 to 3 minutes on a low to medium flame stirring often.

Step 27

Then add ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder and ½ teaspoon kashmiri red chilli powder or ¼ teaspoon regular red chili powder. Mix very well.

Step 28

Keep the flame to a low and then add 3 tablespoons fresh curd or yogurt.

Step 29

Stir briskly and quickly while you are adding the fresh curd. Mix very well.

Step 30

Now sauté this masala, till you see oil or ghee releasing from the sides. The whole masala will reduce and you can easily see oil releasing from the masala.

Step 31

Now add 1.5 cups water or add as required. For a thicker gravy, you can add 1 to 1.25 cups water.

Step 32

Season with salt.

Step 33

Bring the gravy to a simmer on low to medium flame for 6 to 7 minutes. Once the gravy is done, it will be reduced slightly and you will see specks of oil floating on top.

Step 34

Add ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder, ¼ teaspoon kasuri methi (crushed) and 2 tablespoons low fat cream. Mix very well. Cream is optional and can be skipped.

Step 35

Switch off the flame and add 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves. Mix again. Do not add veggie koftas in the hot curry as they break.

Step 36

Now take the curry in a serving bowl or dish.

Step 37

Place the fried veggie kofta on the curry. Garnish with some chopped coriander leaves, grated cheese and cream.

Step 38

Serve with roti, naan or jeera rice.