Shrikhand
Encyclopedia
Shrikhand is an Indian
sweet dish made of strained yogurt. It is one of the main desserts in Gujarati cuisine
and Maharashtrian cuisine
. It is also served with Gujarati thali sometimes as a sweet dish. Preparation of this dish is very simple but it takes some time to process yogurt properly.
The word Shrikhand is a combination of two words: "Shri" + "Khand". "Khand" in general has two meanings. It can mean a part of something (like a part of a region). It may also mean sugar or sweet. "Shri" is the syllable for the Hindu God Vishnu
. In Hindu mythology, Krishna
, an avatar
of Vishnu, was known to be very fond of butter. Hence Shrikhand means the sweet-part of yogurt, that is very dear to Krishna.
(वेलची/इलायची/ઈલાયચી) and saffron
(केसर/કેસર/केशर) are then added and mixed. It is then left in the refrigerator for the sugar to dissolve. The dish is then served chilled.
A popular variation of shrikhand in Maharastra is Amrakhand (आम्रखंड), which is shrikhand mixed with mango pulp and made homogeneous with a blender. In a few parts of Gujarat, another variant of shrikhand, Matho (મઠો), is also very popular and served as a sweet dish or dessert. The preparation method is almost the same, but some fresh fruits are always added in Matho.
The recipe for shrikhand is so versatile that it can practically take any taste that an imaginative person can create. Of late, Sphurti shrikhand (Maharashtra) has also introduced Fruitkhand which is a tongue-tickling shrikhand with pieces of apple, chikku, pineapple, etc. In unorganised sector, even Strawberry shrikhand is available.
In Gujarati cuisine, shrikhand is eaten as either a side-dish with breads such as poori (usually "khaaja poori", which is a savory fried flaky bread) or as a dessert. It is commonly served as part of a vegetarian thali
in Gujarati restaurants and it is very popular as part of wedding feasts. It is often served chilled and provides a refreshing counterpoint to hot and spicy curries. Dried and fresh fruit such as mango
[आंबा][आम][કેરી] are also added.
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...
sweet dish made of strained yogurt. It is one of the main desserts in Gujarati cuisine
Gujarati cuisine
Gujarati cuisine refers to the cuisine of the Gujaratis from India, who are predominant in western India. It is primarily a vegetarian cuisine, despite having an extensive coastline for sea food, due influence of Jain vegetarianism and traditional Hinduism...
and Maharashtrian cuisine
Maharashtrian cuisine
Maharashtrian cuisine is cuisine of the Marathi people, those from the state of Maharashtra in India. Maharashtrian cuisine covers a range from being mild to very spicy dishes. Wheat, rice, jowar, bajri, vegetables, lentils and fruit form important components of Maharashtrian diet...
. It is also served with Gujarati thali sometimes as a sweet dish. Preparation of this dish is very simple but it takes some time to process yogurt properly.
The word Shrikhand is a combination of two words: "Shri" + "Khand". "Khand" in general has two meanings. It can mean a part of something (like a part of a region). It may also mean sugar or sweet. "Shri" is the syllable for the Hindu God Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
. In Hindu mythology, Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
, an avatar
Avatar
In Hinduism, an avatar is a deliberate descent of a deity to earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being and is mostly translated into English as "incarnation," but more accurately as "appearance" or "manifestation"....
of Vishnu, was known to be very fond of butter. Hence Shrikhand means the sweet-part of yogurt, that is very dear to Krishna.
Recipe
The yogurt is tied in a cotton cloth and left under pressure to drain off most of the water. In the past, it used to be hung from a wall to achieve the desired thick and creamy product. The strained yogurt (चक्का) and sugar are mixed thoroughly in a deep bowl. The cardamomCardamom
Cardamom refers to several plants of the genera Elettaria and Amomum in the ginger family Zingiberaceae. Both genera are native to India and Bhutan; they are recognised by their small seed pod, triangular in cross-section and spindle-shaped, with a thin papery outer shell and small black seeds...
(वेलची/इलायची/ઈલાયચી) and saffron
Saffron
Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the saffron crocus. Crocus is a genus in the family Iridaceae. Each saffron crocus grows to and bears up to four flowers, each with three vivid crimson stigmas, which are each the distal end of a carpel...
(केसर/કેસર/केशर) are then added and mixed. It is then left in the refrigerator for the sugar to dissolve. The dish is then served chilled.
A popular variation of shrikhand in Maharastra is Amrakhand (आम्रखंड), which is shrikhand mixed with mango pulp and made homogeneous with a blender. In a few parts of Gujarat, another variant of shrikhand, Matho (મઠો), is also very popular and served as a sweet dish or dessert. The preparation method is almost the same, but some fresh fruits are always added in Matho.
The recipe for shrikhand is so versatile that it can practically take any taste that an imaginative person can create. Of late, Sphurti shrikhand (Maharashtra) has also introduced Fruitkhand which is a tongue-tickling shrikhand with pieces of apple, chikku, pineapple, etc. In unorganised sector, even Strawberry shrikhand is available.
In Gujarati cuisine, shrikhand is eaten as either a side-dish with breads such as poori (usually "khaaja poori", which is a savory fried flaky bread) or as a dessert. It is commonly served as part of a vegetarian thali
Thali
Thali is a Western, Central, and North-Western Indian meal with contents varying from one region to another. More usual and famous thalis are Maharashtrian, Gujarati and Rajasthani. A thali is a selection of different dishes, usually served in small bowls on a round tray. The round tray is...
in Gujarati restaurants and it is very popular as part of wedding feasts. It is often served chilled and provides a refreshing counterpoint to hot and spicy curries. Dried and fresh fruit such as mango
Mango
The mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
[आंबा][आम][કેરી] are also added.