Does yellow remind you of festivals, happiness, and prosperity? Baisakhi, Punjab's harvest festival, is filled with energy, dhol beats, and golden wheat fields swaying in the breeze. Yellow represents prosperity and new beginnings and is a huge part of festivities. Right from colorful clothes to mouth-watering food, everything exudes joy.
Food is at the center of Baisakhi celebrations. Family and friends unite to enjoy warm, wholesome meals that embody the essence of the harvest season. Though aromatic puris and creamy curries abound, dessert always takes center stage. And what more fitting way to celebrate the season than with a dessert as radiant as the festival itself? Make Silk Mango Shrikhand Dessert—a fruity, tangy, and creamy dessert with a touch of chocolate. prepared from delectable mangoes, hung curd, and ending with a grate of Silk chocolate, the dessert brings about traditional touches mixed in with contemporary inspiration. Easy to prepare, however rich to dine upon, with each mouthful having that touch of exclusiveness.
ingredients:
Method:
Whisk the hung curd until smooth and creamy. Add the mango pulp and whisk well until blended. Add powdered sugar, cardamom powder, and saffron-infused milk and mix well. Chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of two hours. Serve chilled, garnished with chopped nuts and a light dusting of grated Silk chocolate.
The star of the dish is mango, so go for the best. Alphonso mangoes impart a luscious natural sweetness, but Kesar mangoes provide a subtle tanginess. Fibrous mangoes do not puree well, so avoid them. If fresh mangoes are not available, top-quality canned mango pulp is equally good.
It is the firmness of curd that creates the consistency that shrikhand relies on. Use full-cream yogurt and suspend it using a muslin cloth for minimum four hours. For a double thick outcome, hang it overnight. A runny base could spoil the whole dish; hence patience is highly required here.
Powdered sugar blends seamlessly into the shrikhand. Adjust the sweetness based on your mango’s natural sugar level. If using canned mango pulp, reduce the sugar to balance the taste. A drizzle of honey can also enhance the mango’s natural charm.
A sprinkle of cardamom powder and saffron strands soaked in milk give the dish depth. These classic ingredients give the dish a warm and subtle fragrance, so each spoonful is more decadent. Do not overpower the dessert with excessive spice.
Shrikhand is best served chilled. Keep it refrigerated for a minimum of two hours before serving. This allows the flavors to mature and makes the dessert even more refreshing, particularly on a hot Baisakhi afternoon.
Almonds and pistachios in chopped form provide a crunchy texture, and grated Silk chocolate creates a smooth, chocolatey contrast. The subtle sweetness of the chocolate complements the tart mango perfectly, taking the dessert to the next level.
Presentation is everything! Serve Silk Mango Shrikhand Dessert in earthen bowls for a rustic feel or in sophisticated glasses for a contemporary look. Serve it with hot puris for a classic experience or as a dessert on its own for a light, filling conclusion to your Baisakhi celebration.