How to make Khajoor Mishti Doi

A Healthier version of wonderful and Famous Traditional Bengali Dessert

What is Mishti Doi ?

Mishti Doi or Mithi Dahi is possibly the most popular and beloved sweet dish in Bengal, and arguably the state’s second most important culinary export after the roshogolla. Fans of this iconic Bengali dessert—fermented set yogurt sweetened with caramelized sugar—are found all over the subcontinent, including Bangladesh, and even further afield.

Mishti Doi is an essential part of a Bengali meal and is traditionally made for religious and festive occasions like Durga Puja, Bengali New Year (Pohela Baisakh), and weddings. In the Vedas, curd or yogurt is described as the food of the gods, which may explain why it is an essential part of religious rituals. Plus, this easy Mishti Doi recipe, chilled, is a delicious way to beat the heat and is a perfect thirst-quencher in a hot and humid climate.

Despite its immense popularity, Mishti Doi is rarely prepared at home, possibly because it is widely available in practically every mithai shop in every neighbourhood in Bengal. Also, it takes planning and you need to make it at least a day in advance before you can eat it.

Although the misti doi recipe requires minimal ingredients, and even though the process is fairly simple and hassle-free, you need patience to make this scrumptious sweet – it has a waiting time of around 12 hours for the yogurt to set.

Healthier Twist in Mishti Doi –

Khajur mishti doi is a healthy twist to the traditional Bengali sweet. As the name says healthy mishti doi with dates, is devoid of refined and sugar and made with dates.
To make Khajur mishti doi, you need to soak the dates in warm water for about half an hour. Then drain the water, deseed the dates and combine with water to make a smooth puree. Then boil the milk for 8 to 10 minutes and after cooling it slightly add the dates puree and curd for the mishiti doi to set. Pour into individual serving glasses or cups of your choice and allow it to set for 5 hours. Cooling milk in this healthy Bengali sweet for 10 minutes after boiling is very important as curd added in hot milk will not set the mishiti doi well. Similarly soaking the dates in the beginning in hot water is also important to get a uniform texture.

Healthy mishti doi with dates has been made with cow’s milk as it has slightly lower fat content than full-fat milk. If you wish you can make this sweet with low- fat milk also. That will bring down the fat content to almost nil. Turn to about half a portion of this comparatively healthy Indian sweet to satisfy your sweet tooth. You will not load your body with refined sugar and thus avoid inflammation too with this khajur mishti doi. While heart patients and others aiming to eat healthy sweet can include this healthy mishti doi with dates as an occasional treat, diabetics should avoid it because of the addition of dates. Kids also need not hesitate to indulge in this sweet delicacy.

Recipe how to make Khajoor mishti doi – Healthy Bengali sweet

Soaking Time: 30 minutes

Setting time: 8 to 10 hours

Preparation Time: 2 mins

Cooking Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 10 hours 42 minutes

Ingredients –

1/2 cup dates (khajur)
21/2 cups cow’s milk
1 tbsp whisked curds (dahi)
For The Garnish
a few saffron (kesar) strands and nuts of your choice (Almonds/pistachios)

Method –

1. To make khajur mishti doi, combine the dates and enough hot water in a bowl, cover with a lid and keep it aside for 30 minutes.
2. Drain, deseed the dates and put in a mixer jar.
3. Add ¼ cup of water and blend well till smooth. Keep aside.
4. Put the milk in a deep non-stick pan, mix well and boil on a medium flame for 8 to 10 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
5. Cool slightly for approx. 10 minutes, while stirring occasionally,
6. Add the dates puree and whisk Well keep aside
7. Put the curds in a deep bowl and whisk well.
8. Pour the milk-dates mixture in it and whisk very well.
9. Pour the mixture into 5 individual cups or bowls, cover with a lid and keep aside in a warm place for atleast 8 to 10 hours or till set.
10. Refrigerate the khajur mishti doi for atleast 1 hour and serve chilled garnished with saffron strands.
    Nutrient values per serving
    Energy 116 kacl
    Protein 5 gm
    Carbohydrates 15.6 gm

Health benefits of Khajoor Mishti doi

• As the name says the ingredient that lends sweetness in this Bengali dessert is dates and not sugar. This substitution has been done to avoid the use of refined sugar which has many ill-effects
  on the body.
• Curd is probiotic and thus healthy for gut too.
• Curd lends 2 important nutrients calcium and protein. Both these are twin pillars of our bones.
• Heart patients can enjoy this dessert They can opt for low-fat milk instead of cow’s milk if they wish to enjoy a completely fat-free delicacy.
• For kids, on the other hand, this dessert is a healthy option too. Try serving them healthy sweets like this dates based mishti doi since childhood, so as to avoid developing their taste buds for
  sugar based sweets.

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Hope you like this recipe.

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