Shahi tukda or Indian bread pudding is a dessert form the “heaven on Earth” Kashmir. Shahi tukda is a piece of fried bread topped with evaporated milk (rabri) and garnished with own choice of nuts. A similar dish “Double ka Meetha” is also there, which originated from Hyderabad. The difference in these two dishes lies in their serving manner. Shahi Tukha is topped with rabri and nuts but Double ka Meetha is served with the halwa.
Origin of Shahi Tukda:
Shahi Tukda traces back its origin from the Mughal Kitchen and is very popular in present-day. Word Shahi Tukda literally means ‘Royal Piece’. The recipe is also believed to have been invented in order to use the unused bread in the nineteenth century.
Ingredients required to prepare Shahi Tukda:
- White loaves of bread (according to requirement)
- 1/4 cup cashews
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 2 tablespoons pistachio nuts
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk ( to be condensed into rabri )
- Evaporated milk (rabri)
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 pinch saffron
- Butter or Ghee
Preparation of Shahi Tukda:
- Frying the required ingredients:
Heat the butter or ghee in a deep – fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F. Remove the bread crusts and fry the bread slices in the hot melted butter or ghee until they turn into deep golden brown colour. Drain out the excess ghee from the bread slices using paper towels. Now fry the cashews, almonds, pistachio nuts in the hot ghee or butter until they turn golden brown (Note: Fry them separately). Set them aside for cooling and then chop roughly.
2. Preparation of Rabri ( evaporated milk ):
Take a heavy bottomed pan and pour the milk in it. Bring the milk to a gentle boil and then keep it on a low flame so that it reduces to half of its original volume. Pour the evaporated milk in a pan and add the sugar, cardamom and saffron: simmer the whole contents together for about 5 – 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool down completely.
3. Preparation of Shahi Tukda:
Arrange the fried bread pieces in a shallow dish in a single layer. Evenly pour the milk mixture on the bread slices. Spread the chopped nuts over the bread. Chill in the refrigerator until completely cold. Shahi Tukda is ready to be served.
Serving Shahi Tukda:
It can also be served at room temperate but chilled shahi tukda tastes better.
Health Facts of Shahi Tukda:
As the dish has high calorie content so it should be consumed by those who are no watchful of their body weights. But as the dish is immensely tasty and impossible to resist, one can exercise to compensate the calories gained.
