Thandai drink - Special Beverage For HOLI

 INGREDIENTS

• Whole milk - 2 &1/2 cups
• Water - 1/2 cup
• Brown sugar/white sugar - 5 tbsp
• Saffron strands - 1/4 tsp

Thandai masala ingredients

• Almonds - 12
• Cashewnuts - 10
• Raisins -10
• Melon seeds - 1 tbsp
• Poppy seeds - 1 tbsp
• Fennel seeds - 1 tbsp
• Green cardamom - 4 pods
• Black peppercons - 5
• Cinnamom -1/2 inch
• Nutmeg (grated/powder) -1/4 tsp(optional)

 PREPARATION

• Soak all dry fruits and poppy seeds together  in 1/2 cup of water for  4 to 5 hours or overnight.
• Dry roast the peppercons, cinnamom stick, green cardamom and fennel seeds on low flame.
• Fry them till you get nice aroma.
• Combine the soaked dry fruits and roasted ingredients and grind them to smooth paste..
• Place the saucepan with the milk into it on the medium flame.
• Bring the milk to boil and add grinded paste  into it.Stir well.
• Let  milk simmer for 5 minutes.
• Then add  sugar and crushed saffron strands.
• Mix well.Cook for 2 minutes.Turn off the flame.
• Let it cool to the room temperature and refrigerate it for 4 to 5 hours.
• Serve chilled and garnish with chopped nuts if desire.