Delicious Shahi Tukde

Step 1: Preparing the Milk for Custard

• Bring milk to a boil:

  In a saucepan, pour ½ litre of milk and heat it over medium flame until it begins to boil. Stir occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom.

• Reserve 1 cup of milk:

  Before the milk boils completely, remove 1 cup of milk from the saucepan and set it aside. You’ll use this later to mix with the custard powder.

Step 2: Flavoring the Milk

• Add cardamom powder:
  Add ¼ tsp cardamom powder to the boiling milk. Stir well to infuse the milk with the aromatic flavor of cardamom. Let it simmer for about a minute so the milk absorbs the flavor.

Step 3: Preparing the Custard Mixture

• Mix custard powder with reserved milk:
  In a separate small bowl, combine the 2 tbsp custard powder with the reserved 1 cup of milk that you set aside earlier. Whisk it well to dissolve the custard powder completely, ensuring there are no lumps.

Step 4: Cooking the Custard

• Add custard mixture to boiling milk:

  Slowly pour the custard mixture into the saucepan with the boiling milk while stirring constantly to avoid forming lumps.

• Cook the custard:

  Reduce the flame to low-medium heat and continue stirring the mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the mixture thickens to a custard-like consistency. It should coat the back of a spoon.

• Add chopped nuts:

  Add ½ cup chopped nuts (you can use a mix of cashews, almonds, and pistachios). Stir them into the custard to add crunch and flavor. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the custard cool at room temperature.

Step 5: Preparing the Cream Mixture

• Whisk the cream and powdered sugar:
  In a separate bowl, take 1 cup of fresh cream and add 1 tbsp powdered sugar. Whisk the mixture until it becomes smooth and slightly thickened, but not too stiff.

Step 6: Preparing the Bread

• Cut the bread slices:

  Take 4 slices of white bread. Trim the edges if you prefer, or leave them on. Then, cut the bread into 4 equal parts, either into squares or triangles, based on your presentation preference.

• Spread the cream:

  Generously spread the prepared cream mixture on each bread slice. Make sure the cream is evenly spread over the surface of each slice.

Step 7: Soaking the Bread

• Make the sugar milk mixture:

  In a shallow bowl, add ½ cup milk and 1 tbsp sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely in the milk.

• Soak the bread slices:

  Take each piece of cream-coated bread and briefly dip it into the sugar milk mixture for about 1 second on each side. Be sure not to over-soak the bread, as it may become too soggy. The goal is to lightly moisten the bread.

Step 8: Assembling the Shahi Tukde

• Arrange the soaked bread slices:

  Place the soaked bread slices on a serving plate or dish. You can arrange them in a single layer or stack them, depending on your serving preference.

• Pour custard over the bread slices:

  Gently pour the cooled custard mixture over the bread slices, making sure each slice is covered with a generous layer of custard.

• Garnish with nuts and saffron:

  Sprinkle some chopped nuts (almonds, pistachios, or cashews) over the custard for added texture and decoration. Place a few saffron strands on top to give a vibrant color and a royal touch.

Step 9: Serving the Shahi Tukde

• Chill or serve immediately:

  Let the Shahi Tukde sit for a few minutes to allow the custard to settle. You can serve it immediately, or refrigerate it for 30 minutes to an hour to serve chilled.

• Enjoy your Shahi Tukde:

  Serve this royal dessert as a treat for special occasions or whenever you crave something indulgent and delicious. Enjoy!