Thandai (Saffron Almond Pistachio) Drink
Thandai, this delicous, sweet & cramy milk beverage made with a special blend of saffron, cardamom and nuts like almonds and pistachios. A healthy and chilled Rajasthani beverage is served to beat the height of summer as most of used ingredients have a cooling effect.
Ingredients:
Serves 2
- 2 cups of whole (it is prefered) milk
- 6-8 blanched almonds
- 6-8 pistachio nuts without shell
- 5 green cardamoms, shelled
- pinch of saffron threads
- pinch of fennel seeds
- 2 white peppercorn
- 1 tbsp sugar (or to taste)
- pinch of cinnamon
- crushed ice (optional)
How to make Thandai:
- Soak nuts for at least 2h or overnight.
- Finely grind the almonds, pistachio nuts, cardamom seeds, fennels seeds and pepper conrns. The smoother the paste the better. You can add few spoons of milk for smoother paste.
- Bring ½ cup milk to boil. Add saffron and keep on slow heat for few minutes. Add sugar and stir till it is disolved.
- Add the cinnamon powder and ground mixture to the boiling milk. Stir well.
- Cool it down and put it to refregirato to chill for at least 3 h or overnight, Serve chilled, adding crushed ice if preferred.
Tip:
- You should always soak the nut as they make smoother taste.
- You can add 1 tsp paste made of poppy seeds