Basundiबासुंदी
The Bhai Dooj sweet in Maharashtra and Gujarat — a reduced milk dessert that takes time, which is exactly why it reads as a gift to a sibling.
About 70 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 litres full-fat milk
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
- Saffron strands
- Chopped almonds and pistachios
- A few drops of lemon juice
Method
- Bring the milk to a boil in a heavy, wide pan and then simmer on low, stirring continuously.
- Add a few drops of lemon juice to help the milk thicken.
- Reduce to about half the volume — this takes 45–60 minutes. Scrape the sides down as you go.
- Add sugar, saffron and cardamom, and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Cool, then chill. Garnish with chopped nuts before serving.