Ras malai

Yield: 8 Servings

Ingredients:

2 lb Ricotta Cheese
2 qt Half and Half
2 c Sugar
5 Cardamon pods
1 Bay leaf
1 ts Vanilla

Instructions:

Rose water; to taste (opt) Mix 1 1/2 cups of sugar with the Ricotta cheese and bake it in a 400 F oven for about 75 minutes in a flat dish covered with aluminum foil. The cheese should have hardened and turned a pale brown. Thicken the half and half by simmering over low heat for a long time. This is best done in a microwave; if a microwave is not available do it over low heat and stir frequently. Thicken until the volume drops to around half of the original volume. Add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar cardamom pods bay leaf vanilla and rose water (and any other flavoring that you may want) to the Half and Half. Heat for a few minutes. After the cheese has been baked cut it into 1 inch squares and add to the hot thickened half and half. Cool for a few hours in the fridge. Rajeev Krishnamoorthy rajeev@twain.EE.CORNELL.EDU