Vegan Basundi - Indian Dessert

 Veganized Basundi. 

Ingredients: Please use the dairy-free milk that you like. The denser, the better. The day I tried, I had Almond milk and Coconut milk, so I used 1/2 cup of almond milk and 2/3 cup of coconut milk. 

1 and 1/4 to 1 and 1/2 cups of plant-based milk (you can take two cups too). Try any dairy-free milk like Oatmilk or Soy etc..( do not worry if the consistency is thinner or thicker. The thinner consistency is called Basundi, while the thicker is called Rabdi.) So whichever way you can either thicken or make it thin. Adjust milk and flour accordingly. (I have not tried coconut flour, but instead of ground almond, you can try coconut flour too.)  

1 1/2 to 2 cups water. (If you use the thinner milk of the coconut, then adjust the milk accordingly.)

1/8 cup shelled raw pistachios (two tablespoons)

Few saffron strands (less or about 1/4 teaspoon) soaked in a tablespoon of lukewarm water, 

1/4 cup raw cashew nuts soaked in warm water for a few min. 

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom. 

1/3 cup or as per your taste sugar

1/8 c (two tablespoons) Ground almonds to resemble flour OR coconut flour. (Two tablespoons)

A pinch of salt.

1. Mix the water (add less water if your coconut milk has solid and thin liquid), plant-based milk, cardamom powder, pistachio, cashew nuts, and saffron with the water socked in. Blend it in a blender at intervals like a few seconds, then a min, and then min and a half or two. Make sure it is mixed, and the nuts are smooth and blended well. It needs to be a smooth batter.

2. Put it on the stovetop and boil on medium-high heat (it took about 4 to 5 min. As it starts to heat up, stir it every few seconds. 

3. Add the remaining ingredients: (sugar, ground almond or coconut flour, salt, and keep boiling as it gets thicker.) 

4. Keep boiling it. After it reaches the desired consistency.
(The total time I boiled from step 2 was less than 15 min.)

5. Turn the gas off and let it cool. Garnish with the 1 and 1/2 tablespoons chopped almond and pistachio on top. Or serve it in the bowls and sprinkle the chopped nuts in individual servings. 

Enjoy! - Kalpana

(Based on Vegan Richa's recipe)