This is a print preview of "Kesar Pista Thandai - Saffron Pistachio Milk Drink" recipe.

Kesar Pista Thandai - Saffron Pistachio Milk Drink Recipe
by Hina Gujral

Kesar Pista Thandai - Saffron Pistachio Milk Drink

Thandai or Sardai is one of my favorite Indian drinks, the word Thandai/Sardai refers to cooling drink, as the name suggests Thandai is relished during summers reason being most of the ingredients in Thandai are natural cooling agents like fennel seeds, khus khus, melon seeds and all these ingredients together create Thandai which is embedded with the festival of Holi and Indian summer.

Rating: 4/5
Avg. 4/5 1 vote
Prep time: India North indian
Cook time: Servings: 10 glasses

Ingredients

  • For Thandai Masala
  • ⅓ Cup Almonds
  • 2 Tbsp Cashews
  • 1 Tbsp Poppy Seeds (khus khus)
  • 2 Tbsp Melon Seeds
  • 1 Tsp Fennel Seeds
  • 4 - 5 Green Cardamom Pods
  • 2/4 Tsp Black Peppercorns
  • For Sugar Syrup:
  • 1 Cup Water
  • ¼ Cup Sugar
  • For Thandai:
  • 1 litre milk
  • ½ Tsp Rose essence
  • Sugar as per taste
  • A pinch of saffron
  • A fistful of pistachio, chopped

Directions

  1. Soak almonds, melon and poppy seeds in water for 2 hours minimum or overnight in separate bowls.
  2. Drain almonds and peel skin. Drain melon and poppy seeds as well and set aside.
  3. Meanwhile boil sugar and water until sugar is dissolved and syrup turns slightly thick. Turn of the gas and set aside to cool down.
  4. Once syrup cools down, grind almonds, soaked seeds, cashew, fennel, peppercorns and cardamom pods to a smooth paste using half of sugar syrup.
  5. Strain the thandai mixture through the fine strainer or cheesecloth in a clean bowl. Return the leftover ground paste to the blender with rest of the sugar syrup and grind again, extract the liquid once more.
  6. At this stage thandai masala is ready and it can be stored in bottle in fridge to be used later.
  7. To make thandai, add the ground paste to the boiling milk- sugar mixture and mix well. Once thandai masala is dissolved turn of the gas and leave aside for 15 minutes.
  8. Add saffron strands, rose essence and chopped pistachios to the milk thandai mixture.
  9. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours.
  10. At the time of serving, pour into serving glasses. Top with crushed pistachios, slivered almonds and one or two saffron strands or rose petals.
  11. Serve thandai chilled. Happy Holi!!!