Thandai is a refreshing Indian flavored milk, made with nuts, seeds, cooling spices, and dried rose petals. Here's a 10-minute recipe using homemade thandai powder.
2tablespoonsgranulated sugaradjust to taste - see notes
Instructions
Make Thandai Masala
Add peppercorns, cardamom, poppy seeds, fennel, melon seeds, saffron, and rose petals to a spice grinder and pulse to a fine powder. Transfer to a bowl.
Now add cashews, almonds, and pistachios to the spice grinder and pulse to a fine powder. Combine with the spice powder. Thandai masala is ready.
Prepare Thandai and Chill
Pour choice of milk in a sauce pan and heat it on medium heat. When milk is warm, stir in thandai powder and sugar, and stir to combine.
Bring the milk mixture to a boil, then turn off the heat. Cover with a lid and let it cool for 10 minutes.
When cool to the touch, transfer to a jar or measuring cup, cover, and refrigerate the Thandai for 4-6 hours, or overnight.
Strain and Serve
When ready to serve, stir well, then strain the mixture through a sieve into serving glasses. Using the back of a spoon, gently press the residual thandai spices to strain all the milk.
Garnish with dried rose petals and finely chopped pistachios (optional).
Video
Notes
Milk: Pick whole milk or 2% depending on how rich you like your thandai. I wouldn't recommend fat-free milk in this recipe.
Make it Vegan: Use almond milk to keep this recipe 100% vegan.
Grind separately: To prevent the nuts and spices from over-grinding and releasing their oils, grind the spices and nuts in two different batches.
Sweeten to taste: This recipe results in a medium-sweet Thandai. Taste it after the sugar dissolves in warm milk, then add more if you like.
Make-ahead: The Thandai Masala can be prepared 2-3 weeks in advance. Store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
Multiplying this recipe: Split the thandai ingredients and grind them in batches to prevent the oils from releasing.
Chill before serving: For best results, chill thandai overnight, or at least 6-8 hours.
Note: The nutrition facts below are my estimates. If you are following any diet plan, I recommend cross-checking with your preferred nutrition calculator.