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Shahi Tukriaan - Royal Bread Bites

Fatima Sadal - Chef on Rhine
A rich, royal dessert featuring fried sugar-syrup-coated bread topped with fragrant sweet cream and pistachios.
5 from 2 votes
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 6 slices white bread small
  • oil for deep frying

For the sugar syrup

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 2 green cardamoms
  • few strands of saffron

For the cream

  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup yoghurt
  • 1/4 cup cream
  • 2 Tbsp milk powder

For garnishing

  • 1/2 cup pistachios crushed
  • edible silver leaves optional
  • rose petals optional

Instructions
 

  • Prepare sugar syrup by combining all the ingredients in a sauce pan. Allow to cook on high heat until thick and sticky. Take a drop in between your finger and see if it sticks and leaves a straight string of sugar. Allow to cool.
  • In a heavy bottom pan, take milk and yoghurt and allow to boil on medium heat. Let it curdle and allow the water to turn greenish. Rinse under running cold water through a fine sieve. Press gently to remove excess liquid. The cheese is ready.
  • In a sauce pan, take cheese, cream and dry milk powder. Cook until the mixture thickens. Avoid stirring too much.
  • Remove sides from the bread slices and cut diagonally to get two triangles or four small squares (if using big slices) from each.
  • Heat 1 cup oil in a frying pan. Fry the bread pieces on medium heat until fully crisp and golden brown.
  • Allow to cool on paper towel.
  • Dip each bread piece in the cold sugar syrup. Then place 2 Tbsp cold cream mixture on it.
  • Sprinkle with 1 Tbsp chopped pistachios and decorate with edible silver leaves and rose petals.

Notes

  • The sugar syrup needs to be thick or the bread will turn soggy after dipping. However, if it gets too sticky, you can always add a few tablespoons of water and bring to a boil again.
  • For an oil free version, you can toast bread slices in the toaster as well but frying definitely gives it more flavour. 
  • All components can be prepared ahead of time and assembled shortly before serving. That ensures a crispy bread base.
  • Home made cheese can be replaced with half cup store bought ricotta in this recipe.
  • Pistachios can be replaced with almonds or cashews.