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Khurchan
खुरचन: Mathura and Old Delhi layers of milk skin scraped from the kadhai and stacked with sugar
Khurchan means 'scrapings', and in Mathura and the sweet lanes of Old Delhi it is made by simmering milk in a wide iron kadhai and lifting off the skin that forms, layer after layer, then stacking the sheets with a sprinkle of sugar and cardamom. It is a winter sweet, sold in small squares, and offered at Janmashtami in Krishna's town. It takes patience, not skill. The common mistake is letting the milk boil, which breaks the skin; keep it just steaming, never bubbling. Chef's tip: fan the surface of the milk gently with a paper plate between layers; the cooler air makes the skin form faster and thicker.
- Total time
- 125 min
- Difficulty
- hard
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the khurchan
- 8 ¼ cups full-fat milk
- 2 ⅛ oz caster sugar
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- ½ oz pistachiosthinly sliced
- 1 pinch saffron strands (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Pour 8 ¼ cups full-fat milk into a wide, heavy kadhai or frying pan and bring it to a gentle steam over medium heat, not a boil.
10 minStep 2: Turn the heat to low so the milk only steams and trembles. After 6–8 minutes a thick skin forms; push it gently to the side of the pan with a flat spatula, where it will cling.
8 minStep 3: Keep collecting skin every 5–6 minutes, pushing each layer onto the sides, until about a fifth of the milk is left, about 1½ hours. Do not stir.
90 minStep 4: Mix 2 ⅛ oz caster sugar and ½ tsp ground cardamom. Scrape the dried skin from the sides with a flat spatula and lay the sheets in a small tray, sprinkling sugar between layers and spooning a little of the remaining thick milk over.
10 minStep 5: Top with ½ oz pistachios and 1 pinch saffron strands, cool, then chill 2 hours until set. Cut into squares; keep in the fridge and eat within 3 days.
5 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 260 kcal
- Protein
- 11 g
- Carbs
- 24 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
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Good to know
- How long does khurchan take?
- About 125 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 120 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of full-fat milk?
- Oat, soy or almond milk, same amount (use unsweetened for savoury dishes).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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