Shahi Tukda - Royal dessert flavoured with Seasonal Mangoes.

Shahi Tukda is a popular classic royal dessert, which was originated during Mughal times. It is also known as shahi tukra which was enjoyed during Ramadan and was favorite in the Mughal kingdom. The word “Shahi” means royal and “Tukda” means a piece. Hence the word describes a royal piece of classic dessert was enjoyed by royal authorities of royal kingdom.

This royal dessert is prepared by deep frying white bread slices into the ghee, soaked into the flavored sugar syrup .These  delectable pieces are topped with delicious  rabdi (thickened milk) and nuts.

To bring in a twist to the dish, I flavored rabdi or thickened milk with freshly made mango puree. Though, traditionally plain rabdi is been used. Just to game the season, I came up this idea and it was a big hit.

This delicious dessert is a perfect dessert to be made on day of Eid .Hence sharing this post, so that you all can enjoy its royal taste and enjoy with your family.

INGREDIENTS

• White Bread – 10 slices (I recommend you to use white bread for better taste)
• Melted Ghee – 1&1/2 cups (more or less)

To Make Sugar Syrup

• Sugar -1 cup
• Water – 1 cup
• Cardamom powder – 1tsp
• Rose essence – ¼ tsp

To Make Mango Rabdi

• Full fat milk – 1 liter
• Mango puree – 1 cup
• Sugar – ½ cup + 1/4 cup
• Cardamom powder – 1tsp

To Garnish Shahi Tukda

• Dried Rose petals
• Crushed almonds and cashewnuts

 METHOD

• Cut the bread slices into halves diagonally.
• Heat ghee in a frying pan.
• Deep fry all the bread slices till golden brown in color.
• Darin any excess ghee from them by placing on kitchen paper towel lined plate. Keep it aside for later use.
• To Make Sugar syrup
• Combine sugar and water in a pot. Mix well and cook on the medium flame till syrup slightly thickened.
• Add in cardamom powder and rose water. Mix well and turn off the flame.

 To Make Mango Rabdi

• Bring milk to boil in a heavy bottom pot.
• When milk starts to boil, lower the flame. Stir milk continuously because the milk solids may stick at the bottom.
• When the quantity of the milk reduces to half the quantity, add 1/2 cup of sugar and cook for another minute.
• Also add cardamom powder and mix well.
• Turn off the flame and let the rabdi mixture cool down.
• Meanwhile , combine mango puree and 1/4 cup of sugar into a pot.
• Stir well and cook till mango puree becomes thick and slightly changes its colour.
• Let the mango puree cool down and then add it into the rabdi mixture.
• Cooking mango puree before adding into the rabdi enhances the flavor of mango into the rabdi.
  
• Mango flavored rabdi is ready.

To Assemble

• Arrange the fried bread slices into the wide tray.
• Pour the hot sugar syrup on the top of the fried bread slices.
• Let the fried bread slices absorb all the sweetness of the syrup.
• When you see the bread slices are little soggy. This is the right time to pour in rabdi.
• Then pour in mango rabdi over the bread slices. Spread the rabdi evenly on all the bread slices.
• Finally garnish it with dried rose petals and crushed nuts.
• Here we go Shahi Tukda or Shahi Tukra is ready to serve.
• Shahi tukda can be served warm or cold. Both ways it tastes best.