Saffron and Cardamom Shrikhand with Nuts
Lalkila Kitchen · Vegetarian · Desserts · From the archive
Straining yoghurt changes its texture before any flavouring is added. This shrikhand is a chilled, spoonable dessert with saffron and cardamom, finished with chopped nuts. Start with plain yoghurt that you enjoy eating on its own. The amount of whey it releases varies, so judge the thickness rather than expecting an identical finished quantity from every tub.
Ingredients
- 1 kg thick plain yoghurt
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar, or less to taste
- A few saffron strands
- 1 tbsp warm milk
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tbsp chopped pistachios
- 1 tbsp chopped almonds
Method
- Line a sieve with clean muslin, set it over a bowl and add yoghurt. Cover and drain in the refrigerator until thick and spoonable.
- Steep saffron in the warm milk. Beat the drained yoghurt smooth.
- Mix in sugar gradually, then saffron milk and cardamom. Chill covered.
- Spoon into bowls and add the chopped pistachios and almonds just before serving.
Cooking notes
Use a bowl deep enough that the sieve sits above the drained whey. Keep the yoghurt cold throughout straining, rather than hanging it in a warm kitchen. Powdered sugar blends more easily than coarse crystals. Add sweetness gradually, especially if the yoghurt is mild. Nuts are a garnish here and may be left off for a household that does not use them, with separate utensils to avoid cross-contact.
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More recipes
- Sago and Rice-Flour Uttapam with Onion and Coriander
- Dal Dhokli with Kokum and Peanuts
- Rice kheer with cardamom saffron and almonds
Source and adaptation
Joseph Paul’s approved recipe archive, 22500314-Indian-Recipes.pdf, page 19, Shrikhand Recipe. No individual author is identified on the recipe.
Reduced two tablespoons of cardamom powder to one teaspoon as an explicit flavour adaptation, quantified the nut garnish and changed room-temperature draining to refrigerator draining. No finished yield is claimed.
This is an editorial adaptation, not kitchen-tested by Lalkila. FoodSafety.gov cooking temperatures and safe food handling provide the safety references. The featured image is a generated illustration of this recipe.