Sunday is Holi,the indian festival of colors.Holi is second most popular festival among Hindus the world over.The festival is usually celebrated to mark the end of chilly winters and the onset of spring harvest time with lots of religious significance attached to it.There are boisterous rituals attached to the festival but the highlight of the festival is playing with powdered or wet colors, smearing gulaal [colored powder] on each other and throwing coloured and scented water.In all its all about unadulterated fun and frolic.The unwritten rule of Holi day is that nobody can frown or mind being smeared and drowned in colors….it is all about mirth and joy.
The best part about any indian festival is that food gets utmost importance.Nothing less than a feast can satisfy the palate of indians on such occasions.It is the ultimate thing of joy for us.Lots of sweets, deep-fried pastries, non vegetarian dishes, drinks and desserts are prepared in almost every home, people visit each other and devour the goodies and exchange gifts.
As opposed to other festivals, cooking non vegetarian food on Holi day is considered auspicious in my family.I remember eating fried drumsticks and mutton stew for years as Holi lunch.Like many indian women, my mom’s day used to start in the kitchen on the Holi day, my father’s at the butcher shop and me and my siblings used to start filling drums of colored water from wee hours of the morning to play with our friends.
In India, the examination time used to coincide with the Holi day usually, and I still remember that mom used to shout from the kitchen on top of her voice and allocate an hour or two to us to play and then be back to studies, but at that time who cared..well I don’t care even much now.Infact I learnt from my aunt last week, that the Indian education system is still competing with Holi coz many of the schools in Delhi still have the exams underway including few of my cousins.Mom used to make Thandaai for us with lots of almonds and made us drink saying that the almonds in milk will strengthen our brain & help us get good marks.I never liked the taste of it then, but now sometimes I make it at home even without occasion.In fact I make enough to last for a week or more and start my day with a chilled of Thandai every morning.
It is customary to drink Thandai or a spiced milk drink mixed with ground hemp paste or bhang, which is nothing but a traditional preparation of ground leaves and flowers buds of cannabis plant which aid sleep if taken in moderation.Bhang is also used or smoking or oral consumption.It works like a relaxant for nerves.Anyhow, I did not use any bhang in my recipe.Thandai is a cold milk beverage made by mixing ground nuts, seeds, spices and screw pine[kewra] or rosewater with whole milk.This is a perfect drink to beat the summer heat and is very nutritious as you would see in the ingredient list.I added some mint leaves to my recipe coz I like the subtle flavors imparted by it.Below is the recipe:
Ingredients [serves 4]
- 4 cups of whole milk (substitute with low-fat/almond milk/soy milk)
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup almonds
- 1/4 cup unsalted cashews
- 4 tbsp pumpkin seeds [or melon seeds if available]
- 2 tsp white poppy seeds [available in indian stores under the name 'Khus-Khus' or 'Posto']
- 2 tsp whole black peppercorns [adjust to taste]
- 7-8 green whole cardamom pods
- 2 tsp fennel seeds [or aniseed]
- 1 tbsp rosewater [use 1-2 drops if using rose essence]
- pinch of saffron dissolved with 1 tbsp of warm milk
- 4-5 fresh mint leaves [don't use too many else drink will turn bitter]
- Sugar to taste
- Nuts and ice cubes [optional] for garnish
Method:
- Soak almonds,cashews, fennel, poppy, pumpkin seeds, cardamom & black peppercorn in enough water overnight or for at least 5-6 hours.
- Once soaked, drain the water and discard it.
- Tip in the soaked nuts& spices along with rosewater and mint leaves in a blender and grind to a smooth paste.
- At this point, refrigerate the paste if you want to use it later.The paste keeps fresh for 4-5 days,refrigerated.
- For making the Thandai: Tip in the milk, cream,dissolved saffron along with sugar to the taste in a blender on smoothie mode and churn for 3-4 minutes on high till everything comes together.
- Pour into glasses, garnish with nuts and serve chilled.
Variations :
- You can use the cold milk mixture to make a thandai ice- cream.
- Blend it with lots of ice and 2-3 tbsp condensed milk and make a smoothie.Adjust sugar in that case.
Enjoy ! Happy Holi Everyone!
Oh, look those glasses: so beautifully served!
beautifully presented Tanvi. love this authentic recipe and your set of glasses.
Happy Holi Dear.
What a great drink. I like the idea of making this into an ice cream as well, that would be really perfect on a hot day.
Just finished writing the post for Thandai
and here you are already serving us this refreshing drink. Lovely clicks, Tanvi!
the second pic looks gorgeous tanvi n i had no idea it was holi:(
Same Pinch dear
I also posted Thandai today 
Adding mint sounds nice here. Love this with crushed ice. Lovely photos dear…Nice glass set
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
Happy holi wishes Tanvi, quite a delicious,elegant,flavourful and rich looking thandai..Beautiful glasses..
Thanks for that info on Holi, I’ve never heard of that holiday before. I found it to be really interesting, especially the part about the cannabis plant!! The thandai looks lovely. I’ve never tasted that before. We have a lot of indian markets near where I live – I’d love to go to one on Sunday to get some thandai but the LA Marathon is also on Sunday so a lot of roads will be closed.
Happy holi Tanvi..Thadai looks so fresh and cool..Loved the mint in it.
Cute serving galsses:)
Thandai looks delicious, now i become fan of it. Happy Holi to you and your family.
looks soo yummy!!!! and i love the garnish
Gosh lovely pictures!! Very happy Holi Tanvi may be you have a colourful year ahead and Thandai slurp
First of all the pics are fantastic , u really put in ur heart there and i love that.
V v pretty.
Love all the amazing combi of ingredients that go in there !
U excel always.
Happy Holi, Very rich and refreshing drink…
Oh how delicious. I know I’d go crazy for this. I’m a big fan of lassis, and although its not the same thing, I really appreciate the spices you’ve used, and I love the use of cream instead of yogurt, so decadent
Have a wonderful weekend.
*kisses* HH
Lovely presentation looks yumm!
lovely post Tanvi must be fun to be in India at this time, only watched in movies I hear you on Japan hard to watch news makes me cry as well
I love the glasses & presentation Tanvi
Thandai sounds awesome.
Tanvi, that looks wonderful!! How’ve you been –just got back from my India trip—looking fwd to catching up with all your wonderful recipes and posts!
Happy holi!!!
Thanks everyone for the sweet comments.You guys make me happy:)
Oh wow Tanvi!!! This time you have out did yourself with these shots. To me Thandai has never looked so beautiful. Each shot is better than the other
This looks so lovely and refreshing! I’d love to try this!
Holi is one of my favorite Indian holidays…so many delicious desserts…it’s just a ton of fun!
These thandai look delicious. Better than your average milkshake, that’s for sure!
The glasses are superb and so is the smoothie. I would love to try it!
Happy Holi Day! So interesting to read about this Hindi custom- sounds like a fun tradition. And Thandai sounds delicious!
Ok, I realize this is going to sound so very American of me, but I saw this festival on The Amazing Race and thought it looked like so much fun! I know, I know, I’m a goofy reality tv junky. They didn’t have a glass of this featured though and they definitely should have. It looks so delicious and refreshing! I’m with Katerina as well. Love the glasses!
I’m going to have to make this for my husband, who is crazy about masala chai. This is going to be so nice and refreshing in the summer. Can’t wait to try it! Love your beautiful photos.
This looks so delicious and I so love learning about cultures and foods different than my own. Thank you so much for sharing the traditions and the recipe. What a fresh and beautiful drink for Spring.
The thandai drink got a glorious look in these pretty tall glasses! We never celebrated in our area, Holi.
Wish you a Happy Holi!
This looks and sounds fantastic…Gorgeous photos!
Your glasses are so exotic and your photographs so enticing. The flavours in the recipe sound really delicious – exotic and unfamiliar, but delicious. I loved hearing about the traditions around this holy festival. I have seen movies and pictures of people smearing tumeric all over their bodies and each others. That must be from this holiday!
Valerie