…..Quintessential summer cooler from North India prepared with a mixture of almonds, fennel seeds, melon seeds, rose petals, pepper, poppy seeds, cardamom, saffron, milk and sugar and is a very popular drink to celebrate Holi.
Thandai or Sardai is also paired with bhang (Indian intoxicant), and is associated with Lord Shiva. Gulkand Thandai is basically a concoction of nuts like alomond, cashews and spices like green cardamom , black pepper etc that are grounded to make a dry thandai mix which is later soaked in milk and flavored with some gulkand (rose petal jam).
Holi is round the corner and this is the perfect time to make your very special thandai mix and store for the big day!
Prep Time | 10 minutes |
Cook Time | 5 minutes |
Servings |
servings
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- 1 cup Almonds
- 1/2 cup Cashews
- 3/4 cup Melon Seeds
- 1 tbsp Fennel seeds
- 4 Green Cardamom
- 1 tsp Black Pepper Corns
- 2 tbsp Poppy seeds
- 1 liter milk
- 1 tsp saffron soaked in 2 tbsp milk
- sugar as needed
- 2 tbsp Gulkand
- Rose Petals for garnish
- 2 tbsp Almonds & Pistachios fine chopped for garnish
Ingredients
Thandai Mix :
Thandai :
|
|
- Dry roast the almonds and cashew nuts. Set aside to cool completely.
- Collect all ingredients in blender jar and grind until powdered.
- Store in an air tight jar and keep in a cool dry place.
- Boil milk and cool down completely.
- Add 4-5 tbsp of Thandai Mix (1 tbsp per glass) and saffron infused milk. Soak for few hours or over night.
- Strain through muslin or a strainer (optional : only if you don't like grainy texture in milk) .Keep chilled until required.
- Add sugar according to desired sweetness and gulkand for aroma and rose flavor. Stir well.
- Pour the cold thandai into serving glasses and garnish with chopped pistachios and almonds.
You can soak chia seeds in 1 glass of milk overnight and later top it on the thandai as a garnish.
If you like this festival recipe, then try making at home this Holi and enjoy the festival of colors with your loved ones. Do share your story with me in comments below.
Love : Shaheen
2 comments
Adding gulkand was a new idea
Thanks Anindita 😊