Mango Shrikhand (Amrakhand)

Mango Shrikhand, a refreshing & sweet Indian dessert, is a perfect summer treat. Creamy yogurt, mango pulp and sugar are blended together, and garnished with saffron and cardamom to make this luscious Mango Shrikhand. 

This is a no-cook, no-fail recipe! Even so, I've included all my best tips & tricks to get the perfect creamy Mango Shrikhand.

We have been enjoying this sweet treat all summer, since it is so simple to make. Using Greek yogurt makes the recipe even simpler, and it is the way I have been preparing it recently. The only drawback is that it is a bit less tangy that traditional Shrikhand. So, if you are using regular yogurt, I have pictured the steps below to show you how to strain it to get that nice thick consistency, and keep that authentic flavor.

What is Shrikhand?

Shrikhand is a popular Indian dessert made with Greek Yogurt, also called hung curd. It can be served plain, but when prepared with mango, it is called Amrakhand or Keri Matho.

Shrikhand is popular in the western states of Gujarat and Maharashtra in India, served as a dessert or a side dish along with Puri.

Yogurt is strained in a cloth so that it loses most of its water, this is called hung curd or chakka. This is then mixed with different flavorings to make flavored Shrikhand.

How to make Shrikhand?

The process is very easy!

First, you can make or buy yogurt. If making at home, check out my recipe for Homemade Dahi.

For this recipe, I used store bought Greek yogurt. I prefer using this for Shrikhand, as it is quicker to put together.

To start off, strain the yogurt using a cheese cloth. If you use greek yogurt, you can just stain for 3-4 hours or even skip this step completely. I have tried both ways with Greek yogurt, and it works great even if you don't strain it - so easy!

If using regular dahi (plain yogurt), the longer you strain it the better. I would suggest at least straining overnight, but about 24 hours would be best. Make sure to keep it in the refrigerator when straining for longer, to stop the yogurt from spoiling.

Even though the straining part takes time, it does not take much time after that to put it together!

Once the yogurt is strained, transfer it to a large bowl. Whisk it for a few minutes to smooth out any lumps. Then add the mango puree, sugar, cardamom, and saffron soaked in warm milk. Mix again until everything is well incorporated until you have a nice, smooth consistency.

Then refrigerate for about 1-2 hours before serving. I like to top mine with some saffron strands and chopped nuts. This step is optional, but I love garnishing with crushed pistachios!

The cardamom is optional in this recipe, but I feel it adds a wonderful authentic flavor. When adding saffron to any dessert recipe, soak it in warm milk and let sit for few minutes before adding, to get the wonderful red color and flavor.

Which mangoes to use and how to make the pulp? 

I used fresh mango pulp in this recipe, making sure to use sweet, ripe ones. Remove the pulp from 2 ripe mangoes. Then blend in a blender to make it smooth. If the mangoes have a lot of fibers, then strain the blended fruit to get rid of them.

In India, Kesar or Alphonso mangoes work great for shrikhand. In the US, I have tried using Ataulfo Mangoes, and they work really well.

If mangoes are not in season, store bought mango puree works great too - you can enjoy this dessert year round! Buying the puree makes the recipe even easier, as all is left to do is mix the ingredients.

How to serve? 

You can pair this shrikhand with Poori Aloo, serve on it's own as a festive dessert, or as a sweet treat for any occasion!

Pro-tips for Mango Amrakhand

• I always prefer using fresh, ripe, sweet mangoes. Sometimes this is not possible when they're out of season, so store-bought or canned mango pulp is a great substitute.
• Use plain whole milk Greek yogurt for the best consistency, and great taste.
• For a quick, instant recipe, make the shrikhand with Greek yogurt and store bought mango puree. It will just be a little less tangy than if you used regular strained yogurt.

Variations

• Make Kesar Pista Shrikhand, by using pistachios and saffron when making the mixture.
• Make Elaichi Shrikhand, by adding cardamom to the hung curd.
• Add rose syrup to the mixture, and you have rose shrikhand.
• Use strawberry puree to make strawberry shrikhand.

I hope you and your family enjoy this easy Mango Shrikhand.

Here are some more festive Indian desserts you might enjoy:

• Chocolate Ladoo - A 20-minute kid-friendly treat made with just 4 ingredients.
• Moong Dal Halwa - Check out the easy way to make the authentic halwa using the pressure cooker.
• Gulab Jamun - These sweet balls are a favorite at Indian restaurants, but they are not too hard to make at home.
• Zarda Sweet Rice (Meethe Chawal) - This aromatic sweet saffron flavored rice is royal dessert made on special occasions and festivals.