Malai

Malai (pronounced mah-LIE) is a South Asian dairy product, essentially clotted cream. It's formed by heating whole buffalo or cow milk, allowing the cream to rise and thicken, which is then carefully skimmed off. The resulting malai has a rich, decadent flavor and a thick, creamy consistency. It is typically consumed as a dessert topping, an ingredient in various sweet and savory dishes, or even eaten on its own. The richness of malai comes from its high fat content, providing a luxurious mouthfeel and contributing to its distinct taste. Variations can be achieved by adding flavorings or spices during the preparation, resulting in varied, complex flavor profiles.

Malai meaning with examples

• The dessert platter featured a generous dollop of malai on top of the gulab jamuns, providing a cool contrast to the warm, syrupy sweets. The clotted cream from the buffalo milk gave the dessert a rich flavor profile.
• She carefully spread a thick layer of malai on the paratha, adding a dollop of homemade ghee to make the dish even richer. This combination is a common breakfast treat.
• The recipe called for malai to be incorporated into the creamy korma, which created a luscious and complex texture. It added the depth and subtle creaminess to the curry base, and it perfectly complemented the aromatic spices.
• He ordered a simple bowl of fresh fruit topped with a generous portion of malai as a light dessert. The tangy fruit was balanced by the smoothness of the malai.
• During the festive season, many households prepare a special malai phirni, a rice pudding, which is a rich and decadent treat. The slow cooking and cooling of the phirni makes it rich and velvety.