Indori shikanji
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Not the lemonade of North India but a thick, sweet milk drink with saffron, cardamom and nuts, sold in Indore’s markets.
Region: Madhya Pradesh (Indore)Occasion: Drink; evenings and summerTime: 40 min + chillingServes: 4Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 litre full-cream milk
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup thick curd
- A pinch of saffron soaked in 1 tbsp warm milk
- ½ tsp cardamom powder
- A pinch of nutmeg powder (optional)
- 2 tbsp chopped almonds and pistachios
- 1 tbsp charoli (chironji)
Method
- Boil the milk in a heavy pan and simmer, stirring often, until it reduces to about half.
- Add sugar, saffron, cardamom and nutmeg and simmer for 2 more minutes. Cool completely.
- Whisk the curd until smooth and blend it into the cooled milk until frothy.
- Stir in most of the nuts and chironji and chill well.
- Serve in glasses with the remaining nuts on top.
History
Indore’s shikanji is a rich drink of reduced milk and curd with nuts, quite different from the lemon shikanji of North India. Shops in the old markets have sold it for generations.
Significance
It is a well-known local treat that visitors to Indore are taken to taste.