AAMRAKHAND | AMRAKHAND | आम्रखंड | HUNG YOGURT WITH MANGO PULP

It is an authentic Maharashtrian Sweet dish which is very easy,healthy and heanvenly delicious.It is a must food item on special ocassions like Dasa,Diwali,Paadava (Hidu New Year) etc.

I grew up watching my parents making Aamrakhand and Shrikhand."Aamra" means "Mango" in Sansrit language.As I grew up, I was responsoble to make Aamrakhand many times at my parents place.When making this particula dish, I do not believe in short cuts.It is time consuming but worth while.It is time consuming because you will need to hang yogurt/Curd for more than 12 hours atleast (I keep for 24 hours atleast) to get the perfect Hung yogurt.Later, blending it such that it is soft, and bringing the texture of cream is also very important.

When done perfectly, it almost has texture of Ice Cream.That way, it is always a better option to serve as Ice Cream to kids instead of real Ice cream.

It is mainly served with Puri.but also tastes good with Chapati/Roti etc.You can also choose to serve it just as dessert.I personally do not like adding dry fruits to it but you can always add dry fruits in it.

NOTE :  The Mango Pulp should be added such that one should feel it while eating but should not feel all Mango -ish.It should be such that you are trying to catch the taste,you are catching but still its not there....The flavor should bring the delight and not the sourness to your mouth.So I suggest that religously follow the amount of Mango Pulp used here in the recipe.Or else it will be more like Mango Lassi.

INGREDIENTS :

1. Chakka/ Hung Yogurt - 1 Cup .Home Made Chakka Recipe here.
2. Sugar - 6 Tsp 
3. Mango Pulp - 3 Tbsp
4. Green Cardmom - 1 (If you are using Powder,just a pinch.)

STEPS

• Place a large strainer (large enough to fit all the ingredietns) over a vessel.
• Transfer, Chakka.Make a well in chakka and add Sugar and mix it lightly.
• Now add Mango pulp and start to blend/whisk  all the mixure with clean hands such that it starts to go trough the strainer and settle in the vessel (Using glove recommended if doing with hands).You can also use a suitable laddle for this,By doing this, we are removing any lumos preset and also givesa nice glaze to yogurt.
  
• Now take out all the yogurt from bottom of the strainer and transfer to vessel.
  
• Add Cardmom.Just brake it before adding,so that flavor is absorbed.We do not want it to take over all other flavors.Yes, this is how it works wonder or else it can be spoiler as it has strong essence.
  
• In the vessel, again whisk Aamrakhand until all the pupl is distributed and absorbed evenly.Do it gentlly.Then give folds as we do for baking batter.It helps Aamrakhand become smooth, whipped and gives fine texture and wonderful consistency.See the photo below how wonderfully consistent it is.You can see the Pointy ends and glaze on it.That itself means that Aamrakhand is perfect.
  

• Let it set for few hours in the fridge before serving and serve in yeat another impressive way by using Ice Cream Scoop.Yes,that is how the consistency should be.

TIPS : 

• If you do not want to keep it thick, add milk and mix it well.
• You can add Dry fuits of your choice.Saffron tastes good too.