Ras malai

Soft discs of fresh cheese soaked in sweetened, thickened milk flavored with cardamom and saffron and topped with pistachios.

Ras malai: Soft flat ras malai discs soaking in creamy saffron milk, garnished with chopped pistachios
  • Traditional and regional desserts
  • Bengal

Ras malai starts with chhena, fresh cheese made by curdling milk and draining it. The cheese is kneaded smooth, shaped into small flat discs and cooked in light sugar syrup until they swell. They are gently squeezed and soaked in milk that has been simmered until reduced and thick, then sweetened and flavored.

It is served chilled and is a festive sweet across India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, especially in Bengal. The discs should be soft and spongy and fully soaked with the milk.

Bake it at VanillaGoods

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Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

  1. Indian Sweets (course notes), Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur (course notes)