MITHA DAHI/MISTI DOI
Mitha Dahi(Sweet curd)/Misti Doi is a popular dessert in the states of Odisha and West Bengal. It is prepared by boiling milk until it is slightly thickened, sweetening it with sugar, either guda/gura (brown sugar) or khajuri guda/gura (date molasses), and allowing the milk to ferment overnight. Earthenware is always used as the container for making Mitha Dahi because the gradual evaporation of water through its porous walls not only further thickens the yogurt, but also produces the right temperature for the growth of the culture. Very often the yogurt is delicately seasoned with a pinch of elaichi (cardamom) for fragrance. Baked yogurt is a similar preparation in the west.
INGREDIENTS:-
Evaporated milk-350ml or 1 can
Sweetened condensed milk-350ml or 1 can
Sour cream-250ml or 8oz(optional)
Plain yogurt OR active culture-1/3 cup
Sugar-2 tbsp(for caramelization)
Water-few drops
METHOD:-
1-Microwave 2 tbsp of sugar and few drops of water in a microwave safe bowl on high temp for 3-4 mints till sugar melts and takes a nice deep brown color.(after every 20 secs check on the sugar).
2-Add evaporated milk and bring it to boil for another 3 mints.After every 30 secs stir vigorously to avoid formation of lump.
3-After 3 minutes remove from microwave and slowly add sweetened condensed milk to it.Mix it properly.
4-In a separate bowl whisk sour cream to make it smooth.Gently add it to the milk mixture and make a mixture of these three ingredients by mixing it well.
5-There should not be any lump left inside.In another bowl beat the yogurt with a fork to liquefy it.
6-When the milk mixture is warm add the yogurt.After adding yogurt to the mixture give it a nice stir.Cover with lids/ aluminium foil.
7-Keep in a warm & dry place in a kitchen cupboard till set.(If the weather is really hot just put the pot in a cool dry place and let them set overnight.If the weather is very cool then opt for oven method to set the yogurt.
8-Once set place it in the refrigerator for another 2-4 hrs & serve chilled as a dessert.
OVEN METHOD:
Preheat your oven at 300 degree F then turn it off.Now place your cups or single vessel inside the oven to set the yogurt.
Keep the oven light on.It takes 5-6 hrs for the mitha dahi(sweet curd) to set.Once set take it out and chill in the refrigerator.
NOTES:
1-It is very important to cool the yogurt into the refrigerator once it is set.
2-Traditionally mitha dahi(sweet curd) is set and served in unglazed earthen pot.
Earthen pots make the curd thicker and creamier by gradual evaporation through its porous body and also maintaining the optimal temperature for the growth of culture
3-If you want then you can skip sour cream,if you don’t want to make your dahi(curd) too thick
4-Check the temperature of the milk mixture before you add the yogurt to it.
5-If you want to flavor the yogurt using cardamom,then add 1/4 tsp of cardamom powder to the milk mixture before the yogurt is added.
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