Badam Milk

Does your child give you a hard time when you try to feed them milk? We all know of pesky kids who do not want to drink their milk. Going for sugar-laden off the shelf milkshakes is fine, but if you are looking for a natural alternative, then badam milk is the recipe for you. Chilled badam milk on a hot summer day is a treat that any kid would enjoy on any given day. And if they still don’t want to drink it, that’s more of this delicious goodness for you!

What is Badam Milk?

Badam milk or almond shake is a comforting and nutritious drink popular in India. It is often made with children in mind owing to the fact that it is a very wholesome and nutritious beverage. Badam milk is usually flavored with nuts, cardamom, rose water, and saffron. Chilled Badam milk is definitely a treat on hot summer days.

The evolution of badam milk in India has a lot to do with children not wanting to drink normal dairy milk. It all comes down to the raw smell of milk. So badam milk creates an aromatic experience that makes children forget they’re drinking the same milk by masking the raw smell and adding in nuts for more flavor and texture.

It is also traditional to serve badam milk at Indian weddings. It is fundamentally an energy drink that can be served both warm or chilled and appeals to both kids and adults. Why should kids have all the fun?

Notable Ingredients at a Glance

Milk – Use whole milk for the richness. You can use skimmed milk instead to make the dish less rich.

Nuts – Traditionally, thinly sliced almonds are used along with crushed pistachios. For this recipe, you can use around 20 to 25 almonds and a tablespoon of chopped pistachios. But you are free to add any other kind of nuts that you feel like. make sure to slice them thin so that they are easy to chew while drinking the milk.

Sugar – Use normal granulated sugar. You can use any other natural sweetener of your choice. And you can vary the amount according to your preference.

Pistachios –  Use finely chopped pistachios for garnishing.

Saffron – Beware of fake or adulterated saffron. Since Saffron commands a high price in the market, adulteration is pretty common. You will need 12 strands for two cups.

Cardamom powder – Elaichi powder as it is known in India. It is a complimentary spice to Saffron. Freshly ground cardamom is the most aromatic for this recipe. But store-bought powders will do in a pinch.

Rose Water – This is optional. However, this masks the raw smell of milk very well.

How to prepare Badam Milk

We will start by soaking the almonds in hot water for 10 to 20 minutes. The almond skins should peel off quite easily. Remove all the skins from the almonds.

In a blender, add almost all of the soaked Almonds along with ¼ cup of milk. Blend until it makes a smooth paste. This is the almond flavoring that will be used in our milk. Leave some Almonds for garnishing.

Now in a pan on medium heat, add your milk and let it boil. Add in the sugar, cardamom powder, saffron strands, and almond paste.

Stir it and boil for 8 minutes on medium heat. Just before taking the pan off the heat, add in your rose water.

Take the pan off the heat and pour it into your serving glass.

Garnish with a few saffron strands, chopped pistachios, and thinly sliced almonds.

Serve immediately if you want to consume it hot or refrigerate for 4-5 hours to serve chilled.

Some expert tips for preparing Badam Milk

• Check the quality of saffron and cardamom before buying. These items are expensive and therefore are more likely to be adulterated.
• Badam milk is usually served warm in cold weather and chilled in hot summers. It tastes good either way.
• You can play with the variety and quantity of nuts in this recipe.
• Use plant-based milk for a vegan alternative to this recipe.

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