Rabri: Know The History Of The Dessert And An Easy Recipe To Try

Indian desserts are known for their rich taste, which is usually made more indulgent with the addition of lots of dry fruits. Be it Indian sweets like laddoo or barfi, or desserts like rabri or rasmalai, each one of them has its own story, unique taste, and their own place in Indian festivities or celebrations.

Rabri is an utterly creamy traditional Indian dessert that is made with simmered milk. The thickened milk cooked with sugar and garnished with a generous amount of dry fruits and nuts is what makes rabri a timeless classic. Read this article to dive deeper into its history and get an easy recipe to try it at home.

A Brief History Of Rabri

While the exact origin of rabri cannot be pinpointed, it is believed that the dessert was first made in the birthplace of Lord Krishna, Mathura. As per the scriptures, it is said that the Yadavs, who were the descendants of Lord Krishna, came up taking inspiration from the Lord’s love for milk-based products.

Some stories suggest that the rabri was first offered to Lord Krishna at Banke Bihari temple in Virdanvana by a Rajasthani princess. Some tales also revolve around a Rajasthani wrestler, Parmanand Jain who also used to sell desserts in Jaipur. Back in 1857, he founded Mahaveer Rabri Bhandar where one of his workers who used to cook in palaces accidentally created rabri while boiling milk. But when he made everyone taste the accidental dish, it soon became a hit and was made a part of royal feasts and festivities.

After rabri became a major hit in Rajasthan, it reached other Southern states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, etc. Soon, it was enriched further with ingredients like khoya, nuts, and spices like cardamom and saffron. Thereon, a variation of rabri, basundi originated in the Western coastline of India.

As of now, rabri is a part of many occasions and festivals like Diwali, Lohri, Pongal, etc. It is usually paired with desserts like jalebi, gulab jamun, falooda, malpua, and many more. Apart from the classic, there are many popular variations of rabri like mango rabri, khoya rabri, lacha rabdi, etc.

How To Make Rabri?

If learning about the rich history of the dessert made your mouth drool, you can try this easy-to-follow recipe and make rabri at home.

Ingredients:

  • 1 litre full-cream milk
  • 2 raw mangoes
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder
  • 2 tablespoons chopped nuts

Instructions:

  1. Heat and simmer milk and keep stirring till it reduces to about 1/3 of its original volume.
  2. Once the milk is thickened, add sugar and cardamom powder.
  3. Mix in chopped nuts like almonds, pistachios, and raisins.
  4. After you get the desired consistency, remove the heat and let the rabri cool.
  5. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, garnish with some more dry fruits, and serve.