Creamy Saffron Yogurt

⏱ 40 mins 🍽 Serves 6 🌶 indian ✅ More effort 🏷 Dessert

This traditional dessert, known as shrikhand, is a staple in many west coast Indian homes. It features Greek yogurt strained to a rich consistency, then blended with aromatic saffron, crushed cardamom seeds and golden caster sugar. The creamy result is served in individual glasses, garnished with slivered pistachios and accompanied by fresh mango slices. It's a notably wholesome choice among Indian sweets, ready to enjoy after a straightforward preparation.

Creamy Saffron Yogurt

Ingredients

  • 700g Greek yogurt
  • 2 tsp cardamom pods
  • 100g golden caster sugar
  • 8-10 saffron strands
  • 1 tsp milk
  • 1 tbsp shelled pistachios slivered
  • 1 large ripe mango sliced

Method

  1. Line a large sieve with muslin or sturdy kitchen paper and position it over a big bowl. Transfer the yogurt into the sieve, cover it with more muslin or two sheets of kitchen paper, and leave it to drain at room temperature for 25-30 minutes to reduce its moisture content.
  2. Take the seeds from the cardamom pods and grind them with a pestle and mortar until you have 1 tsp of finely ground cardamom.
  3. Discard the top paper covering the yogurt, then move the thickened yogurt into a mixing bowl. Stir through the sugar. Combine the saffron strands with the milk, then pour this along with the ground cardamom into the yogurt. Stir the mixture thoroughly for several minutes to ensure everything is fully incorporated. You can prepare the recipe to this point up to a day in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator.
  4. Spoon the yogurt mixture into six small serving glasses. Top each one with a scattering of pistachios. Place each glass on a saucer alongside some slices of fresh mango and serve at room temperature.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories204 kcal
Fat11 g
Saturates7 g
Carbs21 g
Sugars18 g
Protein8 g
Sodium88 mg

Recipe details

Skill levelMore effort
CategoryDessert
Cuisineindian
DietVegetarian