What is the difference between Piyush drink and Lassi
At first glance, Piyush and Lassi seem to be the exact same drink. However, Piyush is a rich creamy drink made from shrikhand and is thicker and sweeter than lassi.
It is from the area of Gujarat and Maharashtra
Sweet Lassi is a Punjabi speciality and is made purely from yogurt, sugar and milk. It is often served with white butter on the top. It can then take on many different flavours, such as caramel lassi , rose lassi , mango lassi , just to name a few.
Piyush Drink Recipe
For this recipe, you don’t have to go out and buy ready made Shrikhand, but if you have these few ingredients in the kitchen, you can make Piyush lassi instantly. I like to use up left-over shrikhand.
Delicious and irresistible
Easy and quick
Serve as a snack or dessert
Takes away hunger pangs
What goes in Piyush Drink
Full fat greek yogurt (or hung curd) – greek yogurt has moderate sour and sweet flavours thus it suits so well for this recipe. Homemade yogurt works too
Double or whipping cream
Whole milk or use buttermilk
Nuts such as almond – pistachio flakes
Saffron strands (kesar) which provides a light yellow colour
Cardamom powder
Sugar
Alternatively, you can use syrups such as kesar elaichi syrup (saffron-cardamom syrup)
How to serve Piyush
Piyush is best served alongside spicy indian curries as a cold drink. Some of my favourite spicy curries is authentic chana masala
We served it with crispy Maru style Bhajiyas.
What can I use instead of greek yogurt?
You may use any plain full fat yogurt for this recipe. You can make homemade hung curd. Simply spoon yogurt into a muslin cloth and form a tight knot. Keep a strainer with a bowl underneath to catch the whey.
Do this for 15 -20 min
I don’t have cream, what else can I use instead?
You may use malai instead of cream.
How long can I store Piyush?
We kept our piyush in the fridge for around 5 days in an airtight container to prevent the smell of the fridge settling in the drink. Keep away from strong flavours.
Just mix through again before serving in case the drink has separated.
We used our leftover Piyush in flavouring our Marwari Dum Aloo (instead of adding sugar and yogurt) to give it a real royal flourish!
How to make Piyush Lassi step by step
Follow the stepwise pictures for the best piyush
In a big bowl take double cream.
Whisk using a wired whisk until fluffy and creamy.
Add sugar, yogurt, saffron and cardamom powder.
Blend everything using a whisk.
Add milk and whisk again till you get smooth and silky lassi.
Add slivered nuts, chill and serve in serving glasses.
You can also use an electric blender.
Piyush Drink Recipe
Ingredients
- 100 ml heavy cream double
- 300 ml greek yogurt full fat
- 300 ml whole milk
- 5-6 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp. cardamom powder
- Big pinch saffron thread
- 2 tbsp. slivered almonds and pistachio nuts
- 1 tsp. dried rose petals for garnish – optional
Instructions
- Beat cream in a bowl using whisker till creamy and fluffy.
- Add sugar, saffron, cardamom and yogurt and combine well.
- Now add milk and whisk.
- Add nuts, chill for 10-15 minutes then serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional values are estimated by a computer and may vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. For personalised dietary advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Piyush Drink Recipe
Ingredients
- 100 ml heavy cream double
- 300 ml greek yogurt full fat
- 300 ml whole milk
- 5-6 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp. cardamom powder
- Big pinch saffron thread
- 2 tbsp. slivered almonds and pistachio nuts
- 1 tsp. dried rose petals for garnish – optional
Instructions
- Beat cream in a bowl using whisker till creamy and fluffy.
- Add sugar, saffron, cardamom and yogurt and combine well.
- Now add milk and whisk.
- Add nuts, chill for 10-15 minutes then serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional values are estimated by a computer and may vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. For personalised dietary advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
We’ve always associated Shrikhand recipe with a sizzling hot summer, so naturally, this yogurt based Indian sweet made every year! This easy 5 minute or less instant shrikhand recipe makes a creamy sweet shrikhand with Greek yogurt and whipped cream without straining the yogurt.
What is Shrikhand
Shrikhand is a summer Indian dessert recipe. It originates from Gujarati and Maharashtrian cuisine and is made of a melodic blend of ingredients.
It is traditionally made from hung or strained yogurt and then flavoured with saffron and nuts.
Traditionally, it is made purely of thick yogurt that is strained to make the creamy dessert. Aromatic flavours of saffron, pistachios and cardamom finish it off.
We like to use any leftover Shrikhand in our Piyush drink.
Instant Greek Yogurt Shrikhand
We never wanted to make Shrikhand traditionally if it could be helped, so every year, we would experiment with different yogurts to find the perfect blend.
Some yogurts made the dessert too sour, but we finally landed on FULL FAT Greek yogurt . We love to use Greek Yogurt with 10% fat from Costco.
Greek yogurt is naturally so thick that there is no need for the yogurt to be strained. It’s kind of like using a cheat sheet for exams.
Once tried and tested, I knew it would be the perfect yogurt to use.
Since then, I can make a mean Shrikhand in less than five minutes and kid people into believing that I’d slaved over it all night long 😉
Why this recipe is a keeper
No compromise on tastes, it just likes a traditional one
Vegetarian and Gluten-free Dessert
Ingredients
- Greek Yogurt – full fat works so well.
- Double cream or any other whipped cream.
- Caster Sugar – very fine white regular sugar works well too. You may use other artificial sweeteners if you like. If you don’t have any of these, powder normal sugar and use it.
- Saffron threads
- Nuts (We did use almond and pistachio)
- Cardamom powder helps to digest the rich food also lends delicate and delicious flavours
Whipped cream in Shrikhand
We like to first whip double dream when making shrikhand as it makes it extra creamy, light and fluffy.
How to make Instant Greek Yogurt Shrikhand
Tip:
For those who can not get hold of Greek yogurt. Spread out the plain yogurt on clean kitchen paper towel or clean muslin cloth between load of newspaper and strain.
Add a heavyweight (couple of books) and the yogurt will strain much quicker than hangining it for hours.
It is much more effective and time-efficient.
If you want to serve Shrikhand straight away, soak saffron strands in little warm milk and let it bloom for 5 minutes before adding it into the yogurt.
What to eat with Shrikhand
Shrikhand and Puri
In the state of Gujarat and Maharashtra Shrikhand and Puri is popularly served in a combination. It can be served in an Indian thali consisting of a curry, a bread such as puri or chapatti.
Shrikhand is served during the summer, and especially during the Indian festival of Rakhi/Raksha Bandhan which celebrates the bond of a brother and sister. It can also be served in a wedding thali .
Some curries/dishes that pair well with Shrikhand:
- Aloo Matar (simple and easy curry of potato and pea without onion and garlic)
- Aloo Gobi (simple Cauliflower and Potato Curry without onion and garlic)
- Gujarati Kadhi – leftover water from making the shrikhand can be used in making this kadhi
- Patra (steamed Colocasia leaves)
- Kala Chana – (black chickpea curry)
Also, see our 12 No onion and garlic recipes
Variations:
We like to experiment with shrikhand flavours, and one of our favourites is Instant Mango Shrikhand which celebrates gorgeous exotic mango in its height of season.
Add pureed strawberries in to the yogurt to make strawberry shrikhand, and garnish with chopped/halved or whole strawberries.
Sometimes we like to use Shrikhand in our other recipes such as Eggless Nan Khatai and Shrikhand Cheesecake
Storage
Shrikahnd stays well in fridge and freezer. Store in an airtight container or box in the fridge for upto one week and in the freezer for up 2 months.
Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving it.
Can I use Greek yogurt to make Shrikhand?
Yes, you can. This recipe uses full fat Greek Yogurt.
Can I make vegan Shrikhand?
Yes, of course. There are Greek style vegan yogurts and cream available in the markets. Simply strain the vegan yogurt before making the vegan shrikhand.
As always if you make this recipe, be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe and tag me on Instagram @jcookingodyssey or #jcookingodyssey. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!
Don’t forget to follow me on social media using the buttons below – I can’t wait to see you all there!
- YouTube
Instant Greek Yogurt Shrikhand
Ingredients
- 500 ml Greek yogurt plain and full fat
- 200 ml heavy cream double cream (chilled)
- 150-170 g sugar
- Pinch saffron threads
- ½ tsp. Cardamom powder
- 2-3 tbsp. slivered nuts
- Dried rose petals for garnishing
Instructions
- In a big bowl take cream and whip it till nice fluffy and thick. 200 ml heavy cream
- Add yogurt and whip it again. 500 ml Greek yogurt
- Now tip in the sugar and whip it till sugar dissolves. 150-170 g sugar
- Add cardamom and saffron, mix well. Pinch saffron threads, 1/2 tsp. Cardamom powder
- Sprinkle some nuts and chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours. 2-3 tbsp. slivered nuts, Dried rose petals
- Serve with puri.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional values are estimated by a computer and may vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. For personalised dietary advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
