This dish is a sweetened yoghurt with a subtle saffron character. It is more accurately called kesar elaichi shrikhand and is one of the most popular desserts in Gujarati and Maharashtrian cuisines.
It is commonly served as part of a vegetarian thali in Gujarat and is almost mandatory at wedding feasts. It can be served as a balance to hot and spicy dishes.
There are many variations possible – this is just the basic recipe. Adding dried or fresh fruit is common. A variant of shrikhand is amarkhand. This is shrikhand blended with mango pulp when adding the almonds and pistachios. You can also use a blend of yoghurt and crème fraiche to get a slight sour note to the dessert.
This is a wonderful dessert to serve at an Indian dinner party and is easy to make.
the recipe
about
equipment
equipment
- colander
- muslin square
ingredients
ingredients
- 600 ml yoghurt
- 15 ml milk
- ¼ g saffron threads
- 6 green cardamom pods - seeds only
- 4 tbsp jaggery - grated
- 3 tbsp raw pistachios - chopped
- 3 tbsp almonds
to serve
- 1 tbsp almonds - sliced
- 1 tbsp mint leaves - finely chopped
instructions
instructions
- Line the colander with the muslin square and pour in the yoghurt, spreading evenly. Cover, place in a bowl and refrigerate overnight.
- Warm the milk and add the saffron. Allow the saffron to infuse the milk for at least ten minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Grind the cardamom seeds to a coarse powder.
- Turn the strained yoghurt into a mixing bowl and sift the grated jaggery into the yoghurt. Mix well until it has completely dissolved.
- Add the saffron, milk, ground cardamom, pistachio and almond. Mix well.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
to serve
- Garnish with almond and mint. Serve.
notes
notes
- Dried fruit can be added. Adding one tablespoon each of finely chopped dried mango and dried papaya when adding the almonds and pistachios will take it to another level.
- You could also substitute 200ml of crème fraiche for 200ml of yoghurt for an even richer dessert, with a subtle sweet and sour flavour.
private notes
This feature is only available to subscribers.
a delightful, sweet dessert, yet not too sugary. The saffron is divine.