You can get this delicious dessert in every sweet shop in North India and you should visit Kolkatta to get its authentic taste. But why wait when you can make your own at home?
Put the 5 cups of milk in a heavy pan and when it comes to boiling temperature, switch off the flame and add let it cool for 5 minutes
Start adding the lime juice to curdle the milk
Now strain the milk and leave it for 10-15 minutes, add running water to wash it completely to remove the smell of lime
This is called chena (Indian cottage cheese) to make Balls. Squeeze out the water completely and add a small amount of cornflour to the Chena
Mesh the chena to make the soft texture. Set it for 10 minutes and make the small balls out of it
Now heat the water and sugar in a wide pan, wait till it comes to the boil. This is your sugar syrup
Drop the balls in sugar syrup and cook for 15-17 minutes. The Malai Balls are ready!
For the cream
Take a heavy bottom pan, add milk and stir it continuously till it becomes thick and remains half consistency. Now add sugar and stir it.
Later add cardamom, saffron and chopped pistachios
Now take out Malai Balls out of water, squeeze them, flatten with your hand to remove the sugar syrup. Then add them in the thickened milk mixture and put it in the refrigerator to serve chilled