Shrikhand
Yoghurt hung until it is thick as cream cheese, then beaten with sugar, saffron and cardamom. Fifteen minutes of work and a night of waiting.
Photograph credit: Shrikhand london kastoori (image of Shrikhand on Wikidata Q2341683) by Secretlondon · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · this resized copy is shared under the same licence
Method
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Line a sieve with muslin, tip the yoghurt in, gather the corners and tie.
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Hang over a bowl in the refrigerator for 8 hours, until it has lost about half its weight.
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Soak the saffron in the warm milk for 10 minutes, then crush the threads against the side of the cup.
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Scrape the strained yoghurt into a bowl and whisk in the icing sugar until completely smooth.
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Whisk in the saffron milk and the ground cardamom.
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Pass the whole lot through a sieve once for a finer texture.
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Chill 1 hour.
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Spoon into small bowls and scatter the pistachios and almonds over.
Chef’s Tips
- Eight hours of hanging, and expect to lose half the weight.
- Icing sugar, not caster — you can feel caster.
- One pass through a sieve makes it silky.
Pairing Suggestions
- Puri
- Fresh mango
- Masala chai
Storage & Reheating
Keeps 4 days refrigerated, covered.
Common questions
How long does Shrikhand take to make?
About 15 minutes of hands-on work — 15 minutes of preparation and of cooking — plus 9 hours of straining the yoghurt, so allow 9 hours 15 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Shrikhand?
Eight hours of hanging, and expect to lose half the weight. Icing sugar, not caster — you can feel caster. One pass through a sieve makes it silky.
What should I serve with Shrikhand?
Puri; Fresh mango; Masala chai.
How should Shrikhand be stored?
Keeps 4 days refrigerated, covered.
Is Shrikhand suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Shrikhand?
About 285 kcal per serving, with 9 g protein, 42 g carbohydrate and 9 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.