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Shrikhand: Wonderful Indian Ice Cream Alternative

Shrikhand with saffron
I initially tried Shrikhand on a whim, believing it to be an Indian version of ice cream. Yet when I took my first bite… I almost fell to the floor. It was so creamy, decadent, and delicious! Also... not frozen. I soon understood that Shrikhand is strained yogurt, sweetened with sugar, sometimes fruit, and always spices. It's a darn “good for your gut” ice cream alternative. Not only do you get the benefits of cultured yogurt. You also get a nutritive bone tonic that's far more warming and digestible than ice cream. [Photo by yashraj surana on Unsplash]
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Overnight refrigeration time 4 hours
Course Dessert, Desserts, Fall, Gluten-Free, Holiday, Summer, Vegetarian
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups plain, whole-milk yogurt
  • 1/3 cup organic cane sugar OR jaggery OR granulated coconut sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/2 teaspoon saffron

Instructions
 

  • Line a medium-sized colander with a nut milk bag or large, double-folded piece of cheesecloth and set it inside a medium bowl.
  • Pour the yogurt into the colander and let it drain in the fridge overnight. The drained liquid at the bottom of the bowl is liquid whey. You can reserve it for making raw sauerkraut, homemade sourdough bread, etc. So keep it if you’d like.
  • Transfer the thickened yogurt to a medium bowl and stir in the sugar, cardamom, and saffron until smooth. Enjoy right away if you wish. Or, chill for another couple of hours before serving.

Notes

Deliciousness Tip: Shrikhand’s base is simply thickened yogurt with sugar. So in essence, it’s a blank canvas you can fill in with flavors you adore.
Love cinnamon? Make Shrikhand with 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon and a tiny pinch of cardamom.
Love mango? Make Shrikhand with 1 cup of pureed mango pulp and a pinch or two of saffron.
Ayurvedic Wellness Tip: Shrikhand is best for high agni people (i.e. people with strong digestive fire). Folks with cold constitutions need to take extra care - use less sugar, add more spices, and only eat it when your digestion feels strong.

Shrikhand (and ice cream) can cause colds, coughs, fevers, and even a little constipation. This recipe is best in summer.
Keyword Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, VP-K+