Cook · West Indian · Gujarati

Shrikhand Shrikhand

A silky dessert of strained yogurt, sweetened and perfumed with cardamom and saffron. Because it starts from hung curd, it is a sweet with a genuine hit of protein.

Vegetarian 8g protein West Indian

20 min

+ straining

4

serves

Easy

effort

Why this recipe works

Shrikhand begins with hung curd: yogurt tied in a cloth and left to drain its whey. That straining is exactly how Greek yogurt is made, and it concentrates the protein into a thick, luscious base, while keeping the probiotic benefit of yogurt. Whisked smooth with sugar, cardamom and saffron, it becomes a dessert with real substance.

Ingredients

  • Thick yogurt (to hang)1 kg
  • Sugar3/4 cup, to taste
  • Cardamom, saffron1/2 tsp + a pinch
  • Pistachio, almondto garnish

Method

  1. 1

    Tie the yogurt in a muslin cloth and hang it for a few hours to drain the whey.

    Why hang it: draining the whey concentrates the yogurt, just like Greek yogurt, giving a thick base with more protein per spoon.

  2. 2

    Whisk the thick hung curd smooth with sugar.

  3. 3

    Fold in cardamom and saffron soaked in a little warm milk.

  4. 4

    Chill and garnish with slivered nuts.

An honest word

Shrikhand is one of the better desserts to choose: the strained yogurt gives it genuine protein and a probiotic base, which most sweets lack. The honest caveat is the sugar, it is still a dessert, so keep the sugar sensible or sweeten partly with mango or fruit. In a modest bowl, it is a treat that gives something back.