Banal bread turns sugar-coated treat

Hyderabad is famous all over the world for Char Minar and its aromatic dum ki biryani Some will add to this list baghar ke baigan mirchi ka salan or khubani ka meetha We dont drool dreaming of these delicacies but if truth be told we are partial to a much simpler dish that is seldom allowed to shine on its own by its more delicate culinary relatives

Updated At : 07:50 AM Jun 19, 2016 IST

Double ka Meetha

Pushpesh Pant

Hyderabad is famous all over the world for Char Minar and its aromatic dum ki biryani. Some will add to this list baghar ke baigan, mirchi ka salan or khubani ka meetha. We don’t drool dreaming of these delicacies, but if truth be told, we are partial to a much simpler dish that is seldom allowed to shine on its own by its more delicate culinary relatives. The Englishmen called it the ‘Indian bread and milk pudding’, but for us it is the far less pretentious, but no less satisfying version of the much-hyped Awadhi shahi tukra. To top everything else, it is much easier to prepare. Garnished properly, it can hold its own against any other dessert.

Double ka Meetha

Ingredients

Slices of white bread 4-6 (cut into triangles, retain crust)

Milk 200ml

Cream 3 tbsp

Sugar 3 tbsp

Almonds 2 tbsp (slivered)

Raisins 2 tbsp (optional)

Saffron a few strands

(soaked in rose water)

Ghee 1 tbsp

Method

Line a frying pan with a thin film of ghee and evenly brown — very lightly — the slices of bread in batches. Spread on a shallow glass dish or flat platter. Prepare a thick syrup by adding ¼ cup water to sugar and boil it till the desired consistency is obtained. Sprinkle the syrup evenly over the bread slices. Boil milk till it is reduced to almost half its volume. Add cream and let it simmer for 30 seconds; keep simmering in between. Pour the milk and cream mixture over the bread slices and let them soak well. Garnish with toasted almond slivers and raisins (if using them) and scatter the saffron strands on top. Dig in! Mostly served warm, but we love it even slightly chilled. Do not worry too much if the meetha appears soggy and mushy. Remember it is not shahi tukrha, but double (roti) ka meetha! Can stand on its own robust feet and doesn’t really require a sterling silver drape.

Banal bread turns sugar-coated treat

Unlock Exclusive Insights with The Tribune Premium

Live Matches