Mishti Doi Recipe – Traditional Bengali Sweet Yogurt Dessert

Mishti doi is Bengali sweet yoghurt made by caramelising sugar before adding warm milk and yoghurt. It has a gentle toffee flavour and a softly set texture.

Ingredients

• 1 litre full-fat milk
• 120 g sugar
• 2 tablespoons plain yoghurt with live cultures
• Cardamom, optional

Method

1. Simmer milk until reduced by about one quarter.
2. Melt sugar in a heavy pan until amber, then carefully stir in a little warm milk.
3. Combine with the remaining milk and cool until lukewarm.
4. Whisk in yoghurt, pour into earthenware or glass pots and cover.
5. Leave in a warm place 6–10 hours until set, then chill.

Do not add yoghurt to hot milk, or the culture may fail. Refrigerate before serving.