Shrikhand

Navratri (translates to 'nine nights') is a major Hindu festival to honor all the female Goddesses' mainly Durga Maa. Following the nine nights, many Hindus celebrate Dussehra to celebrate the victory of good over evil. For the Bombaegirls, festivals are all about food - cooking, eating, and sharing with friends and family. A tradition at our place on Dussehra is to make shrikhand puri. Shrikhand is popular Maharashtrian and Gujarati dessert or side dish that is to be enjoyed with puri. It is ultimately an assortment of curd, hint of saffron/mango flavor, topped with crunchy dry fruits. Here's the recipe to make homemade shrikhand...

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Prep Time: 24 hours Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients (serves 3-4):

4 cups yogurt

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup pistachio (grounded to fine powder)

2 tbsp charoli/chironji seeds (optional)

6-7 strands of saffron

How to make?

Step 1:

Hang yogurt is a muslin cloth for 24 hours. You can keep the cloth on a sieve or hang the cloth on your fridge/oven door handle with a bowl underneath.

Step 2:

Remove the thick yogurt from the cloth and transfer to another bowl. This thick yogurt is called chakka. Add saffron and sugar to the chakka and mix well, using a non-electric hand whisk.

Step 3:

Fold in the pistachio powder. Garnish with charoli seeds or other dry fruits. Refrigerate the shrikhand before serving.

Serve as a dessert or with puris (recipe coming up)! Happy Navratri!