Ras malai: Difference between revisions

'''Ras malai''' or '''rossomalai''' ({{lang-bn|রসমালাই}})  or '''rasamalei''' ({{lang-or| ରସମଲେଇ}}) is a dessert originating from the [[Indian subcontinent]]. The dessert is called ''rossomalai'' in the [[Bengali language]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ras malai {{!}} Traditional Cheese Dessert From West Bengal |url=https://www.tasteatlas.com/ras-malai|access-date=2020-09-05|website=TasteAtlas}}</ref>{{user-generated inline|date=December 2020}} ''ras malai'' in Urdu and Hindi<ref name="Diner's" /> and ''rasa malei'' in [[Odia language|Odia]].<ref>https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odia-treat-for-amit-shah-other-dignitaries-at-naveen-niwas/amp</ref>

Though ras malai is made in different places, of them [[Comilla District]] in [[Bangladesh]]<ref>{{Cite web|title={{!}} Rasmalai in Matri Bhandar|url=http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/rasmalai-in-matri-bhandar/|access-date=2020-09-30|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="matri">{{cite news |title=Matri Bhander's roshomalai under siege from copycats |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2017/11/06/comillas-genuine-rasmalai-threat |work=Dhaka Tribune |date=6 November 2017 |access-date=29 September 2020}}</ref> and [[Kolkata]] in the [[India]]n state of [[West Bengal]]<ref name="gt19Oct2017" /> are known prominently.

The sweet may be of [[Bengali cuisine|Bengali]] origin; as claimed by [[K.C. Das Grandsons]], it was invented by [[K.C. Das]], but "Impossible to verify".<ref name="Michael_2011" /> It is also a popular dessert in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shavelson |first1=Paul |title=Flat Food, Flat Stomach: The Law of Subtraction |date=2015 |publisher=Post Hill Press |isbn=978-1-61868-932-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RajrBgAAQBAJ&q=ras+&pg=PT110 |access-date=22 April 2020 |language=en}}</ref> The Sen brothers of Comilla under the "Matri Bhandar" brand also claim to be the original maker of the dessert.<ref name="matri" /> Bangladesh has begun the process of registering [[geographical indication]] status for ras malai.<ref name="GI" />

It is believed to have originated somewhere in the [[Indian subcontinent]], presumably in [[Bangladesh]], Indian states of [[Odisha]] and [[West Bengal]] region.<ref>http://www.indiamarks.com/ras-malai-a-milk-based-dessert-india/</ref> The [[K.C. Das Grandsons]] confectioners claims that it was invented by [[K.C. Das]], but this claim is said to be "impossible to verify".<ref name="Michael_2011">{{cite book |author=Michael Krondl |title=Sweet Invention: A History of Dessert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gN6ySQnUnfwC&pg=PA71 |year=2011 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |isbn=978-1-55652-954-2 |pages=71–72 }}</ref>

According to ''The Diner's Dictionary: Word Origins of Food and Drink'' published by [[Oxford University Press]] "The term comes from Hindi ''raś'' 'juice', and ''[[malai]]'' 'cream'.<ref name="Diner's">{{cite book |last1=Ayto |first1=John |year=2012 |title=The Diner's Dictionary: Word Origins of Food and Drink |publisher=OUP Oxford |page=301 |isbn=978-0-19-964024-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NoicAQAAQBAJ&q=%27%27ras-mal%C4%81i%27%27+is+the+urdu%7CHindi&pg=PA301}}</ref>

Ras malai consists of flattened balls of [[chhana]] soaked in [[malai]] ([[clotted cream]]) flavoured with [[cardamom]]. Milk is boiled and a bit of vinegar or lime juice is added to split it. The whey is discarded and the milk solids are drained, cooled and kneaded into a dough. The dough is divided into small balls and the balls are cooked in hot water with a bit of rose water added. The balls are then cooked in milk with [[saffron]], [[pistachio]]s and [[kheer]] as stuffing.<ref name="gt19Oct2017">{{Cite news |title=Rasmalai is simply the dessert to beat |url=https://www.gulf-times.com/story/567991/Rasmalai-is-simply-the-dessert-to-beat |work=Gulf Times |date=19 October 2017 |access-date=2020-10-02}}</ref>

Various types of ras malai can be found in different areas. In [[Dhaka Division|Dhaka]] and [[Rangpur Division|Rangpur]], the ras malais are similar in shape to the [[rasgulla]]s.<ref name=bpedia>{{cite book|author=Mahmud Nasir Jahangiri|chapter=Sweetmeats|chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Sweetmeats|title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |editor=Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]] |year=2012 |edition=Second}}</ref>

{{Cheese dishes}}