Aamkhand - With tips on how to make thick yogurt at home

Aamkhand is a mango based thick yogurt. It is basically normal shrikhand (sweetened yogurt) but flavored with fresh mango. It is a famous Maharashtrian dessert and usually served with fried flatbread (puris) and potato curry. The combination of the yogurt, Mango and sugar makes this dessert very delicious. Such that one can enjoy it just like an ice-cream.

INGREDIENTS

• Full Fat Milk - 1 litre
• Yogurt Culture- 2 tbsp
• Powdered Sugar - 1/4 tbsp (sweetness may depends on mangoes u use)
• Mango pulp - 3/4 cup (here I used medium size of 1 mango)
• Milk - 3 tbsp (use milk of normal temperature)
• Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
• Almonds and Pistachios, chopped -3 tbsp (to garnish)

METHOD

To Make Yogurt from Scratch

• Boil milk into a pot. Once milk boils to the rolling point. Lower the flame and let the milk boil continuously for another 5 to 10 minutes. 
• This step is followed because to evaporate any excess water content from the milk. And makes yogurt thick and creamy
• Switch of the flame and let the milk cool down.
• When the milk is lukewarm, add in yogurt culture into it and mix it well.
• Transfer the milk mixture into a clean container. 
• Place a container in the warm place to set for at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Once the yogurt is set, place it in the refrigerator for at least 2 to 3 hours.
• After about 2 to 3 hours, take out the yogurt from the refrigerator.
• Place muslin cloth on the big clean bowl and pour the entire yogurt into it.
• Bring all the sides of the muslin cloth together and tie a knot to it.
• Hang it anywhere in your kitchen and let the water drip out completely from it.
• This process may take around 3 to 4 hours.
• And the hung yogurt/hung curd will be ready to use.

To Make Aamkhand

• Transfer the hung curd into a deep bowl. Whisk till it look smooth in texture.
• To that, add in mango pulp, powdered sugar and milk .Mix everything well.
• Adding little milk while mixing makes the process easier.
• Then cardamom powder to the mango based yogurt (Aamkhand).
• Garnish it with chopped almond and pistachios.
• Refrigerate aamkhand for at least 1 hour before serving.
• Then Aamkhand is ready to serve with puri or one can indulge it as a dessert too.