''Rabri'' (
IAST: Rabaḍī) ( ur, ) is a sweet, condensed-milk-based dish, originating from the
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent is a physiographical region in Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian Ocean from the Himalayas. Geopolitically, it includes the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India ...
, made by boiling milk on low heat for a long time until it becomes dense and changes its colour to off-white or pale yellow.
Jaggery
Jaggery is a traditional non-centrifugal cane sugar consumed in the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Africa. It is a concentrated product of cane juice and often date or palm sap without separation of the molasses and crystals, an ...
, spices, and nuts are added to it to give it flavor. It is chilled and served as dessert. ''Rabri'' is the main ingredient in several desserts, such as ''
rasabali
Rasabali (, IAST: rasābaḷi) is a sweet dish from Odisha, India. Rasabali is offered to Baladevjew, and originated in the Baladevjew Temple of Kendrapara. It is one of the Chapana bhoga of Jagannath temple.
It consists of deep fried flatt ...
'', ''
chhena kheeri
Chhena kheeri ( or, ଛେନା ଖିରୀ) is a sweet dish originally from coastal Odisha in eastern India.
Preparation
Chhena kheeri is made by deep frying cubes of chhena cheese. Although typically ghee, traditional clarified butter, is us ...
'', and ''
khira sagara
Khira sagara ( or, କ୍ଷୀର ସାଗର) is an Odia sweet dish that literally translates to ''ocean of milk'' in the Odia language. The sweet has depiction in the Hindu mythological scripture about Lakshmi serving Vishnu and Madhusudana ...
''.
A similar dish goes by the name ''
Basundi''.
History
''Chandimangala'' mentions ''rabdi'' (thickened, sweetened milk), along with other sweets, in the early 1400s.
''Rabri'' was banned in Kolkata 1965 during an economic recession for its excessive use of milk. It was overturned within the year by the
Calcutta High Court
The Calcutta High Court is the oldest High Court in India. It is located in B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal. It has jurisdiction over the state of West Bengal and the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The High Court ...
due to lawsuits from independent sweet shops.
Creation
''Rabri'' is made by heating sweetened milk in a large open vessel (''kadhai''). As the layer of cream begins to form on the surface of the milk, it is taken off and kept aside. The process continues until the milk is exhausted.
See also
*
Basundi, a similar dish
References
Indian desserts
Rajasthani cuisine
North Indian cuisine
Pakistani cuisine
Puddings
Indian dairy products
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