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    Home » Recipe Course » Desserts

    Shrikhand

    October 26, 2021 . By Meeta Arora . 3 Comments | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe
    Shrikhand
    Shrikhand

    Shrikhand, a refreshing & sweet Indian dessert. Creamy smooth yogurt is mixed with sugar and cardamom, and garnished with saffron and pistachios to make this luscious Kesar Elaichi Shrikhand. 

    Shrikhand in a pretty bowl garnished with saffron and pistachios - Kesar Pista shrikhand

    When you want a delicious dessert without much effort, make this easy no-cook and no-fail Shrikhand.

    Shrikhand is a classic Indian dessert made from strained yogurt. Most commonly, it is flavored with saffron (kesar), which gives it the vibrant yellow-orange color and pistachios (pista) add a pop of green.

    We have been enjoying this sweet treat so often by making instant shrikhand with greek yogurt. You can make this recipe with plain homemade yogurt or with store bought yogurt.

    The only drawback of using store bought greek yogurt 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.

    Enjoy this kesar pista shrikhand as is, or combine with gulab jamun to make this fusion Gulab Jamun shrikhand bowls.

    Jump to:
    • What is Shrikhand?
    • How to make?
    • How to serve? 
    • Pro-tips
    • Variations
    • Easy Shrikhand Recipe

    What is Shrikhand?

    Shrikhand is a popular Indian dessert made with thick yogurt, also called hung curd. It can be served plain, or with a variety of flavorings such as - Elaichi Shrikhand, Kesar Shrikhand, Mango Shrikhand and more!

    This sweet yogurt dessert 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 to remove most of its water, this is called hung curd or chakka. This is then mixed with different flavorings to make flavored Shrikhand.

    Shrikhand with elaichi and kesar served in pretty bowls in a silver tray

    How to make?

    First, start with making or buying 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 thin cheese cloth. If using greek yogurt, you can just stain for 3-4 hours or even skip straining completely. I have tried both ways with Greek yogurt, and it works great even if you don't strain it.

    If using regular curd (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, so the yogurt does not spoil.

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

    Making Hung curd or yogurt - step by step

    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 sugar, cardamom, and saffron soaked in warm milk. Mix again until everything is well incorporated until you have a nice, smooth consistency.

    Then add the chopped pistachios. You can use other dried fruits such as almonds too. Or add any other flavorings of your choice.

    Making shrikhand with saffron, eleaichi and pistachios

    Then refrigerate for about 1-2 hours before serving.

    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.

    We like to top when serving with some saffron strands and chopped nuts. This step is optional, but the crushed pistachios give such a wonderful festive look!

    Indian Shrikhand in a pretty bowl on a festive bronze plate

    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

    • Try to use homemade fresh yogurt to make the hung curd (or chakka) for the traditional method.
    • For instant shrikhand, use store bought plain whole milk Greek yogurt for the best consistency, and great taste.
    • When straining, keep the yogurt in the refrigerator, so it does not turn sour.
    • Plan ahead, so you have enough time to strain the yogurt properly. Good shrikhand is thick and creamy.
    • After adding the flavorings, do refrigerate for best results and taste.
    • You can also put in serving bowls and refrigerate few hours before enjoying.

    Variations

    • Make Mango Shrikhand, by adding mango puree.
    • 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 Shrikhand recipe.

    Here are some more festive Indian desserts you might enjoy:

    • Rava Ladoo - Melt-in-the-mouth sweet balls made with semolina.
    • Carrot Halwa - Check out the easy way to make the authentic carrot halwa using a pressure cooker.
    • Gulab Jamun - These sweet balls are a favorite at Indian restaurants, but they are not too hard to make at home.
    • Kheer - This is the easiest rice pudding made in the instant pot.
    Tried this recipe?Give a rating by clicking the ★ below
    Kesar Elaichi Shrikhand (yogurt sweet) in a bowl

    Easy Shrikhand Recipe

    Meeta Arora
    Shrikhand, a refreshing & sweet Indian dessert. Creamy smooth yogurt is mixed with sugar and cardamom, and garnished with saffron and pistachios to make this luscious Kesar Elaichi Shrikhand. 
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Save Saved! Pin
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 119
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Indian
    Diet: Gluten-free, Vegetarian
    Method: No-cook
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 0 mins
    Straining Time: 3 hrs
    Total Time: 3 hrs 10 mins

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 cup Greek Yogurt or plain yogurt
    • 6 tablespoon Powdered sugar I used powdered sugar as it mixes easily.
    • ¼ teaspoon Cardamom powder (Elaichi) optional
    • ⅛ teaspoon Saffron (Kesar)
    • 1 tablespoon Warm milk
    • 1 tablespoon Pistachios crushed or sliced, to garnish (optional)
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    Instructions
     

    Straining Yogurt (optional if using greek yogurt)

    • Place a mesh strainer in a large bowl. Line a cheesecloth over the strainer. Pour the yogurt onto the cheesecloth, gather the corners of the cloth and tie into a bundle. Now you can either hang this cheesecloth or place a heavy weight on top of it.
      Greek Yogurt being strained to make hung curd
    • We want to leave space for the water to collect in the bowl. Leave it out (3-4 hours) or leave it overnight in the refrigerator. For greek yogurt, straining 3-4 hours is enough. If using plain yogurt, strain at least overnight or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
      Hung curd in a cheesecloth after all water is removed

    Making Shrikhand

    • Add saffron to warm milk and keep aside.
    • Remove and empty the thickened yogurt in a large bowl. Whisk it well for 3-4 minutes to make it smooth.
      Shrikhand ingredients
    • Add the sugar, cardamom and saffron soaked in milk. Mix for 3-5 minutes until combined and smooth without any lumps. Then add pistachios and fold them in.
      creamy hung yogurt in a bowl with pistachios on top
    • Chill for 1-2 hours before serving. Serve in bowls and optionally garnish with crushed pistachios and saffron strands.
      Kesar Elaichi Shrikhand (yogurt sweet) in a bowl

    Video

    Notes

    Yogurt: Try to use homemade fresh yogurt to make the hung curd (or chakka) for the traditional method.
    Instant Shrikhand: Use store bought plain whole milk Greek yogurt for the best consistency, and great taste.
    Plan ahead: So you have enough time to strain the yogurt properly. Good shrikhand is thick and creamy. When straining, keep the yogurt in the refrigerator, so it does not turn sour.
    Refrigerate: After adding the flavorings, do refrigerate for best results and taste. You can also put in serving bowls and refrigerate few hours before enjoying.

    Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 119kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 11gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 38mgPotassium: 160mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gCalcium: 114mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword how to make shrikhand, shrikhand recipe, shrikhand with greek yogurt
    Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @PipingPotCurry or #pipingpotcurry

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    Comments

    1. Osman says

      February 01, 2023 at 4:44 am

      Good Day All, Its look delicious . We published new recipe sharing webpage , if you want you can share your recipe with all food lovers. You can gain more visitors and subscribers . Yummyrecipe.co

      Reply
    2. Manka Khanna says

      November 02, 2021 at 5:59 pm

      Hi, Love all your recipes!
      I'm planning on making this srikhand for Diwali. Which store bought greek yogurt did you use? Some of them (like FAGE) are pretty tart and I'm wondering if the flavor will come out well

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        November 09, 2021 at 4:02 pm

        Hi Manka - I have used green mountain from Costco and also tried with chobani. As we also add sweetener to the yogurt, I feel it turns out pretty well. Hope you give it a try!

        Reply

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