Malaiyo
Veg
Varanasi's ephemeral winter dessert — fresh milk churned with the early morning dew and cold air until it transforms into an impossibly light, frothy cloud of sweet cream. Available only October through February.
Cuisines
Banarasi
Best for
Breakfast
Snacks
Recipe
Prep: 15 min
Cook: 45 min
Total: 60 min
2-3 servings
Ingredients
| 1 liter | full cream milk |
| 1/2 cup | sugar |
| 1/4 teaspoon | saffron strands |
| 1/4 teaspoon | cardamom powder |
| 1 tablespoon | rose water |
| 2 tablespoons | almonds, sliced |
| 2 tablespoons | pistachios, sliced |
Instructions
- 1 Pour the milk into a wide, heavy-bottomed pan and bring it to a boil over medium heat.
- 2 Once the milk comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer until it reduces to half its original volume, stirring occasionally.
- 3 Add the sugar, saffron strands, and cardamom powder to the reduced milk and mix well.
- 4 Continue to simmer for another 5-10 minutes until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- 5 Remove the pan from heat and let the milk cool to room temperature.
- 6 Once cooled, add rose water and mix gently.
- 7 Transfer the mixture to a wide, shallow dish and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours.
- 8 Before serving, gently whisk the chilled mixture to incorporate air and create a frothy texture.
- 9 Garnish with sliced almonds and pistachios before serving.
Tips
For best results, prepare Malaiyo in a cool environment and serve immediately after whisking to retain its frothy texture.