Shrikhand - A Yogurt Pudding with Nuts and Spices

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Written by Archana Doshi

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Come every festival, wedding or engagement Shrikhand is a most definitely on the menu for these occasions. When we lived in the Americas and used visit my in-laws in India, Shrikhand and Puri’s was always the first meals we ate. Coming back home was always a treat during the summers as another special variety called Amrakhand was always made, where freshly pureed mangoes are combined with Shrikhand adding to the richness of the delicacy. Many variations can be made from this yogurt delicacy. You can add nuts, fruits like pomegranate, sliced green grapes, chopped mangoes and many more enhance the taste making it rich and festive.

Makes: 5-6 servings
Ingredients
4 cups of yogurt (use low fat preferably)
1 cup of finely powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cardamom powder
a few saffron strands
1/4 cup sliced pistachio or almonds
Fruits of the season (optional)

Method
Pour the yogurt into a cloth sieve or a sieve which has the tiniest of the holes. Take a large enough container where the rim of the sieve will sit on the mouth of the container. Place the sieve with yogurt to sit on the container. Place this container along with the yogurt in the fridge for 5-6 hours or overnight. Doing this strains all the water from the yogurt into the container below and makes the yogurt thick and creamy. The yogurt does not get sour as it is kept refrigerated.

Remove the fully strained whey free yogurt from the fridge and discard collected the whey. Place another large clean container where the sieve can sit on. With the yogurt still on sieve; rub the saffron into the yogurt with the tips of your fingers until the color and flavor of the saffron get shown in the yogurt. Add the sugar to the yogurt sitting on the sieve. Now using a large flat spoon; briskly mix the yogurt mixture such that all the ingredients strain out through the sieve into the container below, making the yogurt smooth and well blended with the sugar.

With the yogurt mixture in the large container now; add the cardamom powder and whisk it well until well blended. Stir in the nuts and refrigerate well for 5-6 hours before serving. If you wish to add fresh fruits do so at the time of serving.

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