Jaggery Shaahi Tukda, a Healthy Royal Treat
A healthier spin on a royal dessert, Shaahi Tukda—‘shahi’ translates to ‘royal’ and tukda means pieces, in the Indian Hindi language— is a rich classic dessert that originated during the Mughal era in India. The Mughals loved to eat it at iftar Some say the dish originated from ‘Umm e Ali’, a favorite Egyptian sweet; it is also made similarly by soaking bread pieces in milk and nuts.
This Jaggery Shahi Tukda blends crispy bread with a warm jaggery syrup and creamy saffron rabri (slowly condensed full-fat milk), garnished with nuts and rose petals. With no refined sugar, it is a soulful sweet perfect for festivals and family gatherings.
Total time : 50 to 60 minutes
Serving : 4 to 6
Ingredients:
- 6 slices white or whole wheat bread (crusts removed)
- Ghee for shallow frying or toasting
- 3/4 cup Jaggery (grated or crushed)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
- 1 tsp rose water (optional)
- 1 liter Full-fat milk
- Few strands saffron (soaked in 1 tbsp warm milk)
- 1/4 cup jaggery grated
- 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
- 2tbsp chopped almonds and pistachios
- Chopped nuts dried rose petals for garnish
Instructions:
- Boil milk in a heavy-bottomed pan.
- Keep stirring and scraping the sides to thicken it until reduced to half.
- Switch off the flame and let it cool slightly.
- Once lightly cool, add the ¼ cup grated jaggery
- Add saffron milk, cardamom, and chopped nuts
- Mix well and set aside
- Meanwhile, boil jaggery with water until fully melted
- Strain if there are impurities
- Return to the pan and simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly sticky
- Add cardamom and rose water. Keep warm
- Cut bread into triangles or squares
- Shallow fry in ghee or air-fry/toast until golden and crisp.
- Dip each fried bread piece in warm jaggery syrup for a few seconds.
- Arrange on a serving plate
- Pour the cooled rabri on top
- Garnish with nuts,and rose petals
Indian Chef Chhaya Thakker, who has a huge following online on WhatsApp and YouTube will be sharing her favorite recipes and cooking tips with readers of The Times Kuwait. For feedback, you can write to editortimeskuwait@gmail.com
