Allow me to call it a beauty.I dont mean fancy or flashy.Neither I want to hint that I toiled over this dessert for hours. It is something hopelessly easy to make, yet succeeds in achieving the delight a dessert is supposed to bring. Softly tart yogurt flavored with freshly ground elaichi (cardamom),topped with a luscious mango saffron compote – as simple as it can get but like a little sunshine on the spoon.
It is hard to believe that something so unfancy & minimal as yogurt & sugar can turn into a creation which appeals to the sweet tooth. I admit that cardamom & cream add more body to the dessert – making it a little more wonderful.Cream is traditionally not used – I like it for the added richness that it lends here. Trust me, never a easy dessert would taste so very spectacular.
Shrikhand is a yogurt based sweet dish originally from western parts of India. But now, it is popular all over the subcontinent. Basic shrikhand recipe is like a blank canvas – some like to add nuts, some combine chopped or pureed fruits with it and some let the melt in the mouth consistency remain unadulterated. Experiment as it pleases you.
I ate shrikhand for the first time prepared by one of my friend’s mom in Pune. She served it along side pooris (deep-fried flatbread) & a spicy bean sprouts curry. The combo was tad odd for me. Supposedly the yogurt is supposed to calm down the spices of the meal as you eat.I m not exactly sure how few bits of that first not-so- appreciable taste testing stuck with me.Eight years down the line & now I immensely enjoy shrikhand with pooris. Just like any comfort food, the sugar & oil overload is quite addictive.
Usually, pureed mango is mixed with hung yogurt & shrikhand becomes amrakhand. My favorite summer fruit is here. I bought season’s first batch last week & they seemed perfect to add a texture to the dessert.The mangoes were ripe & sweet – a compote was definitely on my mind. Addition of saffron to it seemed an obvious decision to accentuate the exotic flavors. The fact that I prepared the dessert with homemade dahi (indian style yogurt) made me a little happy than usual.
All in all shrikhand scores as season celebrating dessert- perfect for those humid, sultry summer months when you want the refrigerator do all the work.Only when you make it, you will know how simple it is to put together; and fantastic too at the same time. Go try it!
Preparation Time :- About 8 hours (includes draining in the refrigerator)
Cooking Time :- 10 minutes (for both shrikhand & mango compote)
Ingredients (Makes 4 servings)
For the Shrikhand
- 1.5 cups whole milk plain dahi (substitute with plain yogurt)
- 100ml heavy cream, cold
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar (or to taste)
- 8-9 green cardamom pods (or 1/2 tsp cardamom powder)
- pinch of nutmeg powder
- 3 tbsp luke warm water
- 1/4 tsp saffron threads
- 1/2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp lime zest
- 2 ripe mangoes, peeled, cored, diced
Lovely ! Shrikhand reminds me of my Badi Mummy who used to make it so perfectly ! Yummy cool concoction for a hot summer afternoon.. One question did you use our Indian Alphonso mangoes in this ? Do you get them here ?
Thanks Neha. I did not use alphonso. I dont think I can get them here, maybe not even at indian stores. I use ataulfo mangoes from mexico. I think they come closest to indian taste.
Thank you for the name of the mangoes , so I know what to look out for ! Keep sharing your goodness with us !
I wonder where my previous comment disappeared anyways ! I had written ” Thats a lovely recipe ! reminds me of my Badi Mummy, she used to make shrikhand perfectly !! Yummy cool concoction for a hot summer afternoon….Thank you for the recipe….I have a question….What kind of mangoes did you use in this ? Do you get Alphonsos here in US ? ”
-Neha
That looks and sounds delicious! I am waiting for my delivery of Alphonso mangoes this weekend. Will definitely be trying your recipe out.
Oh so refreshing! I love this kind of refreshing desserts.
Looks too heavenly … totally smitten by snaps ..
Love your ivory spoon and I love anything with yogurt so this is a total winner in my book!
Another amazing recipe and photography Tanvi! I love your dessert recipe and this looks wonderful…especially tons of mangoes in it. ^_^
Hi Tanvi, I love the intricacy with which you write about every recipe. The photos just make it even more desirable! I can tell the amount of time, patience and work you put into each post. Great stuff
Thanks Vishaka. Blogging is hard work..We both know it
I haven’t gotten myself to make anything with mangoes yet (other than the granola bars) because i am right now enjoying them plain. But this recipe looks super duper tempting
A fabulous dessert! refined, fresh and delicious.
cheers,
Rosa
I am also going nuts here whenever I am in market…Can see only mangoes !! As you said very easy and no hassle but tasty and yummy. Gorgeous clicks as usual
This truly is a beauty Tanvi. It is a lovely dish which you have captured it to perfection
Omg, thats a super tempting,droolworthy and irresistible shrikhand..
beautiful clicks. agree with you that some homemade curd with cardamom and sugar is a simple and gorgeous dessert.
i already have an amrakhand recipe on my site which i posted a while ago. with the mangoes in full season here, we usually have them plain or sometimes i make baked goodies.
What a delight this treat is! I can imagine that the creamy portion and the sweet/tangy mango compote compliment each other perfectly!
This sounds wonderful and perfect for a warm day. I love the flavors.
Oh I love Shrikhand anytime!!These look divine and those mangoes,man I need to get some mangoes right now!!Gorgeous!
How beautiful – love the airy, bright photos. Hope you saved some for me.
Great recipe Tanvi, its perfect as I love yogurt and mango. Your photo definitely speaks more!
Congratulations on making the foodbuzz Top 9!
Thanks
Thank you.
Beautiful clicks. Yummy Shrikhand, I just love all the ingredients.
Beautiful Pictures Tanvi.. Totally in love!
wow such beautiful pics, i really think you should upgrade to a SLR, you are doing so good with a Point and shoot (if you are using this), with SLR you would do wonders
Beautiful as always Tanvi!!!
i love shrikhand, who doesn’t right…..
This looks simply fabulous..Lovely and colourful clicks..
Beautiful pics. I love the yellow color. The compote sounds yummy and a nice twist to the traditional shrikhand.
Love your pictures!
Love your pictures!
Kajal @ http://sweettoothcraving.blogspot.com/
Thank you
That is beautiful Tanvi, I love good, thick yogurt with jam or anything sweet. Or any dairy for that matter.Love to combine feta cheese with jam too
So this is perfect for my taste 
Delicious shrikhand!! Now I need to source out sweet mangoes and make this ASAP!
the perfect way to use my mangoes from the fridge=)
xoxo
Mangoes are my weakness. This shrikhand looks amazing and as usual your photography is stunning!!!
A beauty is right! This looks so inviting, and I adore mangoes!
Awesome recipe.. I made it this weekend for my own graduation ceremony and it came out well. I used frozen berries instead of mangoes… Thanks!
OH this looks just divine! gorgeous gorgeous photos! and I agree, there’s nothing better than a really ripe sweet mango! love the addition of saffron in the compote, and the cardamom, one of my favourite spices!
I made it and ate it up just now. Till now I had only eaten the store bought skrikhands so I have to say that this was a revelation. The alternating tastes of mango compote and creamy srikhand is pure pure bliss. Another winner from Sinfully Spicy!
Thanks Priya.Love that you try the recipes & give your feedback. Do let me know about the ones that you dont like