There is nothing bland about it!

Greetings! I know I always tend to write about the spicy stuff, well this month I want to share a dessert recipe and a bit of history about a very popular and delicious dessert. It is called Ras-Malai. Ras means syrup and Malai means cream. Now, how can we go wrong with these ingredients, right? 

Traditionally, this is made with home-made fresh cheese by adding some lemon juice or vinegar to hot milk for the cream and water to separate. The cheese is made from whole milk, placed in a muslin cloth to remove all the liquid, then small patties are made and soaked in creamy milk. It is light and absolutely delicious. As much as I love to cook, I do like recipes with a few ingredients and simple steps. Hence, I have found a way to simplify the traditional recipe without losing any flavor and texture. Here is a simple recipe for an amazing dessert for you to try. This dessert gets better with time. Feel free to make it a few hours before serving, the longer it stays in the refrigerator the better it tastes. Have fun!

Rasmalai-Baked Ricotta with Cardamoms: 

15 oz ricotta cheese
¾ cup sugar
4 oz half & half milk
3 green cardamom pods
½ cup sliced almonds

Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Mix ricotta cheese and sugar in a bowl. Open cardamom pods and add the seeds to the cheese and sugar mixture. Mix well. Pour into a pie or baking dish and bake it for 30 minutes or until when the top is golden brown and caramelized on the edges. Remove from the oven, leave it to sit for a few minutes and cut into 2” squares while still in the baking dish. Pour half and half and garnish with almonds. For best results, chill for 2-3 hours and serve.

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