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    Home » Indian Sweets

    Rabri (Lachha Rabdi)

    Published: Aug 25, 2020 · Last Modified: Aug 25, 2020 by Kanan Patel / 19 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    rabri in a bowl with text on top of the image for pinterest

    This is the BEST rabri recipe you’ll find on the internet. It is made with the traditional method (I know it is time-consuming, but it’s totally worth the time). The taste is out of the world.

    rabri in a bowl with another bowl in the back
    Jump to:
    • What is Rabri?
    • 🧾Ingredients
    • 👩‍🍳Step By Step Photo Instructions 
    • 💭Expert Tips:
    • 🥣 Storage Instructions
    • 🍽 Serving Ideas
    • FAQs
    • 📋 Recipe Card
    • ⭐ Reviews

    What is Rabri?

    This is the classic North Indian dessert. The main ingredient is Milk (Whole milk or full-fat milk) which is thickened slowly on low flame till it is very thick. During the simmering process, the cream layer is formed on top. That is collected by sticking to the sides of the pan. In the end that collected cream is added back to the thickened milk. This adds the long, rich lachha malai (layers of cream) in the rabri. And this is the BEST part of this dessert. Hence it is called lachha rabdi malai too.

    🧾Ingredients

    Here is the pic of the ingredients used in rabri recipe (rabdi). You’ll need only 5 ingredients. This handful of ingredients make the best, creamy, rich, sweet with long strands of cream in every spoon.

    Milk: It is the main thing here, so please use full-fat whole milk. Low-fat or reduced-fat won’t work here.

    Ingredients used in rabri recipe includes milk, sugar, almonds, pistachios, saffron

    👩‍🍳Step By Step Photo Instructions 

    Blanching The Nuts

    1) Take almonds and pistachios in a bowl and add boiling hot water to it. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Then discard the water.

    2) Peel the skin and slice them. Keep it aside.

    Collage of 2 images showing almonds, pistachios in hot water and peel, sliced nuts in a plate

    Making Rabri:

    1) Take milk in a wide, heavy bottom pan or kadai and turn the heat on medium. 

    2) Once the milk starts boiling, lower the heat to medium-low. It will start to form a thin layer of malai/cream. Now using spoon or spatula, collect that.

    3) And stick it to the side of the pan. Within some time, it forms again and similarly stick it to the sides. Continue doing the same till you reach ⅓ of its original quantity.

    Few things to keep in mind: You have to stir it occasionally to make sure that it is not sticking to the bottom. But do not stir that often or quickly otherwise the cream layer will not form on top rather it will disintegrate into the milk. 

    4) Image (4) after 30 minutes of cooking time.

    5) Image (5) after 50 minutes

    6) Image (6) after 1 hour 10 minutes. It reached to ⅓ quantity of original volume.

    collage of 6 steps showing milk in a pan, collecting cream, sticking to the sides, repeat the same till it is ⅓ quantity

    7) Now add sugar and saffron.

    8) Mix and continue cooking and collecting the cream for another 5-7 minutes. Saffron will infuse its flavor and color.

    9) Now start scraping the sides and add to the thickened milk.

    10) Mix gently, we do not want to break the large layers (aka malai lachha) and simmer for 1-2 minutes.

    11) Turn off the stove. Add sliced almonds and pistachios.

    12) Mix and you can see this thick and lachha rabdi.

    Collage of 6 steps showing adding sugar, saffron, simmering, scraping the sides, adding to the milk, adding nuts and spoonful of rabri

    💭Expert Tips:

    Use heavy bottom and wide mouth pan (not deep like a saucepan). Wide pan helps the milk to evaporate quickly and heavy bottom will prevent the milk from burning and scorching at the bottom of the pan.

    Cook on medium-low heat throughout the rabri making process. Doing to slowly makes a big difference vs boiling and reducing it vigorously.

    Do not stir too often otherwise, the large layers of cream will not form.

    The cooking time given is approximate. It may vary depending on the shape, size of the pan and intensity of the flame.

    🥣 Storage Instructions

    • In the refrigerator, it stays good for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
    • In the freezer, it stays good for up to 3 months. Thaw it on the counter for few hours or in the refrigerator overnight.
    • If you freeze this into kulfi mold, you’ll have creamy, rich malai kulfi ready.

    🍽 Serving Ideas

    • It can be served warm or chilled. If serving cold, then let it come to room temperature and then chill into the refrigerator in an airtight container.
    • It can be drizzled over a few sweets like malpua, gulab jamun, jalebi, shahi tukda, falooda, ghevar, etc. 

    FAQs

    What is the difference between rabri and basundi?

    The similar ingredients are used in making Gujarati sweet Basundi and this rabdi. But the method is different and that results in a very different texture. But the taste is a little similar. While making basundi, we do not collect the cream rather we just mix in with the milk. So it creates the very little specs of cream in basundi unlike here we get long layers of cream.

    rabri in a bowl and spoonful of it taken, ready to eat

    Check Out Other Indian Sweets

    • Kalakand
    • Kheer 
    • Kaju katli 
    • Besan ladoo
    • Rasgulla

    PS Tried this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback! Plus, Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for all the latest updates.

    📋 Recipe Card

    Step by Step Photos AboveWant to make it perfect first time? Don't forget to check out Step-by-Step photo instructions and helpful Tips & Tricks !!
    rabri in a bowl and spoonful of it taken, ready to eat
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    Rabri (Lachha Rabdi)

    4.85 from 13 votes
    Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and/or give ★ ratings
    This is the BEST rabri recipe you’ll find on the internet. This classic North Indian dessert is made with the traditional method.
    Author: Kanan
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: North Indian
    Calories: 252kcal
    Servings 4
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
    US measuring cups are used (1 cup = 240 ml) See details

    Ingredients  

    • 8-10 Almonds , Blanched peeled and chopped
    • 8-10 Pistachios , Blanched peeled and chopped
    • 1 ½ litre or 6 ¼ cups Milk (full fat or whole milk)
    • 3 tablespoons Sugar
    • 3-4 strands Saffron

    Instructions 

    • Start by blanching the nuts. Take almonds and pistachios in a bowl and add boiling hot water to it. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Then discard the water. Peel the skin and slice them. Keep it aside.
    • Take milk in a wide, heavy bottom pan or kadai and turn the heat on medium.
    • Once the milk starts boiling, lower the heat to medium-low. It will start to form a thin layer of malai/cream. Now using spoon or spatula, collect that.
    • And stick it to the side of the pan. Within some time, it forms again and similarly stick to the sides. Continue doing the same till you reach ⅓ of its original quantity.
    • Few things to keep in mind: You have to stir it occasionally to make sure that it is not sticking to the bottom. But do not stir that often or quickly otherwise the cream layer will not form on top rather it will disintegrate into the milk.
    • Now add sugar and saffron. Mix and continue cooking and collecting the cream for another 5-7 minutes.
    • Now start scraping the sides and add to the thickened milk.
    • Mix gently, we do not want to break the large layers (aka malai lachha) and simmer for 1-2 minutes.
    • Turn off the stove. Add sliced almonds and pistachios. Mix and lachha rabdi is ready.

    Notes

    • Use heavy bottom and wide mouth pan (not deep like a saucepan). Wide pan helps the milk to evaporate quickly and heavy bottom will prevent the milk from burning and scorching at the bottom of the pan.
    • Cook on medium-low heat throughout the rabri making process. Doing to slowly makes a big difference vs boiling and reducing it vigorously.
    • The cooking time given is approximate. It may vary depending on the shape, size of the pan and intensity of the flame.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 28.9g | Protein: 13.5g | Fat: 10.2g | Saturated Fat: 4.9g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 190mg | Potassium: 260mg | Fiber: 0.6g | Sugar: 26.5g | Calcium: 360mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    *Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 serving
    Did you make this recipe?Snap a pic, mention @spice.up.the.curry or tag #spiceupthecurry. I would love to see.

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    1. priya

      November 22, 2019 at 6:05 am

      its looks kind of rasamalai . but i really don't know whether it is or not? i was looking for rasamalai recipe and i found this too, i am gonna give a try , i will tell you comment once its done

      Reply
      • Kanan

        November 27, 2019 at 9:10 am

        Rasmalai and rabdi are totally different dishes.
        sure do give it a try.

        Reply
    2. Nj

      September 13, 2019 at 2:33 am

      It's looking very tasty am gonna try y it5 stars

      Reply
      • Kanan

        September 18, 2019 at 5:28 pm

        yes it looks and tastes tasty.
        Do try and let me know how you like it

        Reply
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