#spiceweek7 #saffron #rakhi

Shahi Tukda is a rich and festive dessert from Hyderabadi cuisine. It is a very popular classic and rich royal dessert of bread pudding. The word "Shahi" means royal and "Tukda" meaning a piece. So, it's a royal piece of a dessert that is rich in taste, aroma, flavor, and calories. And hence eaten in small portions.

Shahi Tukda is made by frying bread slices in ghee until golden and crispy. It is then dipped in warm sugar syrup. Finally topped with rich and fragrant thick sweetened milk I.e, rabri, and garnished with dry fruits.

I have pan-fried the bread slices with ghee instead of deep-frying to cut down the calories. If the bread slices are toasted well on the pan in low flame until golden and crispy, you won't miss the deep-fried bread. Also, you can use wheat bread instead of white bread. Fried bread slices are dipped in warm sugar syrup and taken out immediately, don't let it soak for a long time. If you prefer lesser sweet in the dessert, then you can skip it. Serve it with rabri immediately otherwise, the bread slices will turn soggy.

Shahi Tukda is easy to make except for the time-consuming rabri preparation and perfect to serve after a nice and filling meal. If preparing it for parties, plan ahead and prepare rabri a day before and refrigerate. Serve the dessert warm or chilled.