Shrikhand is a traditional Indian sweet dish that originated in the western state of Gujarat. It is a creamy and thick dessert made with strained yogurt, sugar, and aromatic spices like cardamom and saffron. Shrikhand is often served as a dessert after a meal or on special occasions like festivals and weddings.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of plain yogurt
- 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground cardamom
- A pinch of saffron threads
- 1 tablespoon of warm milk
- 1 tablespoon of sliced almonds and pistachios for garnish
Instructions:
- Take a cheesecloth or muslin cloth and line it over a strainer.
- Pour the plain yogurt into the cloth and let it drain for at least 4-5 hours in the refrigerator until all the excess water is removed.
- Once the yogurt has been strained, take it out of the cloth and transfer it into a mixing bowl. Add powdered sugar and mix it well until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Now add the ground cardamom to the mixture and mix it well. You can also add a pinch of saffron threads to the mixture for additional flavor and aroma.
- In a small bowl, soak the saffron threads in warm milk for a few minutes until the milk changes its color.
- Add the saffron milk to the yogurt mixture and mix it well until the color is evenly distributed.
- Transfer the shrikhand into a serving dish and garnish it with sliced almonds and pistachios.
- Refrigerate the shrikhand for at least an hour before serving to allow the flavors to blend.
Shrikhand can be served chilled and is best enjoyed as a dessert after a meal. It is also commonly served with puri (fried Indian bread) to make a dish called Poori-Shrikhand.
