Basundi is sweet and thickened milk flavored with saffron, cardamom, and chopped nuts. It is a creamy, decadent, luscious, and delicious Indian dessert!
250ml (1 cup)cream or half and half cream (optional / see notes)
A few saffron strands
10tablespoonsugar(or to taste)
½teaspoonground cardamom
3tablespoonchopped or slivered nuts(plus more for garnishing)
Instructions
Take milk and cream (if using) into a wide, thick-bottomed pan or pot. Add saffron strands.
On medium heat, bring milk to a boil. Keep stirring the milk at regular intervals to prevent it from sticking to the bottom.
Once the milk starts boiling, let it simmer on low-medium heat until it reduces to almost half.
Make sure to keep stirring at regular intervals, and don’t let the cream (Malai) layer form on the top of the milk.
Also, keep scraping the sides of the pan, and stir any milk solids back into the milk.
Add sugar, cardamom, and nuts once the milk is thickened and you have achieved the right consistency.
Mix well, taste, and adjust the sugar if you need to. Continue cooking for 5 minutes, and turn off the heat.
Cover the pan and set it aside to cool completely.
Then chill the Basundi for at least 2-3 hours, then pour into a serving bowl and garnish it with more nuts and rose petals.
You can also serve the Basundi hot or warm if you like.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve Basundi on its own after a meal or in a feast Thali.
I love chilled Basundi, but you can also serve it hot or warm if you like.
Basundi Poori is a fantastic combination and popular during festivals and weddings.
You can also consume Basundi during the fasting days like Navratri.
Storing Suggestions
Basundi keeps well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Once it is cooled completely, store it in an airtight container and place it in the fridge.
Notes
Milk: Use only full-fat or whole milk to make creamy and rich Basundi.
Cream: If you use milk with 5-6% fat, skip adding cream. Here in Canada, the whole milk comes with 3.25% fat, so I like to add either half and half cream or heavy cream to make the Basundi creamier and luscious.
Sugar: Add sugar as per your sweet preference. Initially, add ½ cup of sugar, taste, and add more sugar if you need to.
Cooking: Use a heavy-bottomed and wide pan or pot for cooking milk. That way, there will be less chance of sticking milk to the bottom. Once the milk comes to a boil, gently simmer the milk on low-medium heat for the best Basundi texture. While cooking the milk, keep stirring frequently, and don’t let the cream layer form on the top of the milk.
Spices: I highly recommend adding ground cardamom. However, if you want, you can skip adding saffron. You can add a pinch of nutmeg powder other than cardamom if you like.
Nuts: I have added almonds and pistachios, but you can add your choice of nuts. Scaling: This recipe can easily be halved or doubled as per the requirements.