Basundi
Encyclopedia
Basundi is an Indian
dessert
mostly in Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka. It is a sweetened dense milk made by boiling milk on low heat until the milk is reduced by half.
Heavy cream may be added during the boiling process to hasten the thickening process. Once reduced, a little sugar, cardamom, Buchanania
seeds also known as Charoli
and/or saffron are added. Basundi is served chilled, often garnished with slices of almond
s and pistachio
s.
It is often made on Hindu festivals such as Kali Chaudas and Bhaubeej (Bhai Dooj).
Different styles of Basundi are also prepared like Sitaphal (Custard apple
) Basundi and Angoor Basundi ( Basundi with smaller kinds of rasgullas )
Indian cuisine
Indian cuisine consists of thousands of regional cuisines which date back thousands of years. The dishes of India are characterised by the extensive use of various Indian spices, herbs, vegetables and fruit. Indian cuisine is also known for the widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society...
dessert
Dessert
In cultures around the world, dessert is a course that typically comes at the end of a meal, usually consisting of sweet food. The word comes from the French language as dessert and this from Old French desservir, "to clear the table" and "to serve." Common Western desserts include cakes, biscuits,...
mostly in Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka. It is a sweetened dense milk made by boiling milk on low heat until the milk is reduced by half.
Heavy cream may be added during the boiling process to hasten the thickening process. Once reduced, a little sugar, cardamom, Buchanania
Buchanania
Buchanania is a genus of plant in family Anacardiaceae.Species include:*Buchanania amboinensis Miq. – native to Papua New Guinea...
seeds also known as Charoli
Charoli
Charoli are seeds of Buchanania lanzan used as a cooking spice primarily in India. Charoli are tiny almond-flavoured dried seeds of a bush called Buchanania lanzan, which is cultivated across India, primarily in the northwest. After the hard shell is cracked, the stubby seed within is as soft as a...
and/or saffron are added. Basundi is served chilled, often garnished with slices of almond
Almond
The almond , is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree...
s and pistachio
Pistachio
The pistachio, Pistacia vera in the Anacardiaceae family, is a small tree originally from Persia , which now can also be found in regions of Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Sicily and possibly Afghanistan , as well as in the United States,...
s.
It is often made on Hindu festivals such as Kali Chaudas and Bhaubeej (Bhai Dooj).
Different styles of Basundi are also prepared like Sitaphal (Custard apple
Custard apple
Custard apple, a common name, can refer to:*Custard-apple, also called bull's heart, the fruit of the tree Annona reticulata.*The custard-apple tree itself, Annona reticulataThe term may also refer to:...
) Basundi and Angoor Basundi ( Basundi with smaller kinds of rasgullas )