Skip to main content

Basundi (Creamy Saffron and Nut Dessert)

5.0

(1)

A bowl of Creamy Saffron Nut Dessert with almonds pistachios and saffron on the side.
Photo by Nassima Rothacker

Basundi is the creamiest of desserts. The milk is cooked with condensed milk and reduced to make the texture thick and creamy. Each type of nut adds a different flavor note. They also soak up the milk mixture and swell up beautifully, as well as giving the dish a pleasing crunch, while the cardamom adds a lovely aromatic touch.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    30 minutes

  • Yield

    Serves 4

Ingredients

600 ml (2½ cups ) whole milk
Pinch saffron threads, plus extra to decorate
150 ml (½ cup plus 2 Tbsp.) condensed milk
½ tsp. ground cardamom
30 g (1 oz.) raw cashews, thinly sliced
30g (1oz) pistachios, thinly sliced, plus extra to decorate
30 g (1 oz.) raw almonds, thinly sliced, plus extra to decorate

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Pour the milk into a pan, add the saffron and bring to the boil. Add the condensed milk and cook over a low heat for 20 minutes until the mixture has thickened and reduced slightly. You will need to stir the mixture every few minutes otherwise it will stick to the pan.

    Step 2

    Add the cardamom and the nuts and cook over a low heat for another 5–6 minutes.

    Step 3

    Pour the mixture into little bowls and serve warm, decorated with extra saffron, pistachios, and almonds.

Chetna’s 30 Minute Indian Cookbook by Chetna Makan
From Chetna’s 30 Minute Indian: Quick and Easy Everyday Meals © 2021 by Chetna Makan. Reprinted with permission by Mitchell Beazley, distributed by Hachette Book Group.Buy the full book from Mitchell Beazley, Amazon, or Bookshop.
Read More
Among the top tier of sauces is Indonesian satay sauce, because it is the embodiment of joy and life. In fact, this sauce is also trustworthy and highly respectful of whatever it comes into contact with—perhaps it is, in fact, the perfect friend?
The mussels here add their beautiful, briny juices into the curry, which turn this into a stunning and spectacular dish.
Originally called omelette à la neige (snow omelet) in reference to the fluffy snow-like appearance of the meringue, île flottante (floating island) has a lengthy history that dates back to the 17th century.
This cake was created from thrift and was supposedly named after its appearance, which reminded people of the muddy Mississippi River bottom.
There are many things that appeal about a Basque cheesecake—it's crustless (one less job) and is meant to look “rustic” with its wrinkled and jagged sides.
Spaghetti is a common variation in modern Thai cooking. It’s so easy to work with and absorbs the garlicky, spicy notes of pad kee mao well.
Yeasted pancakes mixed with saffron and cardamom (called chebab) are typical of Gulf countries, but I must confess I much prefer these lacy thin crepes.
Fufu is a dish that has been passed down through many generations and is seen as a symbol of Ghanaian identity and heritage. Making fufu traditionally is a very laborious task; this recipe mimics some of that hard work but with a few home-cook hacks that make for a far easier time.