Sweet saffron yoghurt (shrikand)
Fragrant and sweet, this yoghurt pudding is perfect for a celebration - especially if you can get silver leaf to decorate.
Ingredients
- 1 litre/1戮 pints whole milk yoghurt OR 500ml/17陆fl oz Greek-style yoghurt (It is necessary to have a larger quantity of whole milk yoghurt than of Greek-style yoghurt because whole milk yoghurt will lose more water when drained.)
- milk, for infusing
- 陆 tsp saffron threads
- 6-8 tbsp icing sugar, or to taste
- 录 tsp freshly ground green cardamom seeds, or to taste
To serve
- 2 tbsp chopped unsalted pistachios
- 2 tbsp flaked or sliced almonds
- edible silver leaf (available from Asian grocers, optional)
- pomegranate seeds
Method
Line a large sieve with a double layer of paper kitchen roll. Place a bowl under the sieve and pour in the yoghurt. Refrigerate for as long as possible to allow the liquid to drain off the yoghurt. This will take a minimum of 5-6 hours.
Heat a little milk in a small pan. Place two teaspoons of the milk into a small bowl and crumble the saffron strands into it (the rest of the milk can be used in another dish). Allow the saffron to infuse the milk for about ten minutes using the back of a spoon to crush the saffron further into the milk.
Remove the yoghurt from the fridge (the liquid in the bowl below can be discarded). Sift the sugar into the thickened yoghurt, then add the saffron milk and ground cardamom. Cover and chill in the fridge.
To serve, divide the yoghurt among four bowls and garnish with the nuts, silver leaf (if using) and pomegranate seeds.
