Badam milk is a traditional indian beverage packed with flavor and warmth. Its super easy to make, refreshing and aromatic. It is also known as badam doodh or badam wala doodh. Today I am sharing an heirloom badam milk recipe belonging to my grand mother. In those days, she used to tirelessly grind the almond & poppy seeds paste using a sil batta (indian style mortar & pestle). Growing up, badam milk was a regular in our home especially during winter months. I loved milk in any shape and form and happily chugged down a glass anytime. I prefer a warm cuppa, however badam doodh tastes equally good when served chilled. Exactly how my kids love it! I make it thickish similar to a milkshake for them and they love the hint of pepper and the creaminess.
What is Badam Milk
Badam = Almonds. Doodh or Dudh = Milk. Badam milk is a popular indian milk beverage made by simmering together milk and a spiced almond paste. Traditionally, this delicious drink is made by soaking the almonds overnight, peeling their skins off and then grinding with spices by hand (to preserve the potency) to make a thick paste which is combined with milk and cooked low and slow to develop flavors.
About My Recipe
As with most indian recipes, the method of making badam milk differs from home to home. I follow my grandmother’s recipe. She used to make a wet paste of almonds, poppy seeds, black pepper and munakka (a variety of raisin). I cannot find munakka in my indian grocery store so I skip it. My favorite thing about this badam milk is the balance of flavors. It is not overwhelming with aroma or the taste of spices, there is a nice peppery note in every sip that you will taste at the back of your tongue. You will actually taste the almonds! Her badam milk used to be ivory in color. It had a pleasing scent of cardamom and she added a few strands of saffron just before serving. I do the same. However you may add the saffron while boiling. You can find pre made badam milk powder in stores these.Some of them taste good however I feel that they are loaded with thickeners and sugar. I prefer my homemade version because its filled with goodness of pure almonds. Also, I keep the sugar quantity low in addition to using skim milk (2 percent milk). This badam milk drink is
rich and soothing can be easily made vegan (use cashew or almond milk)
Later in the post, I am also including how to make badam milk powder for badam milk.
Badam Milk Ingredients
Here are the ingredients
Milk - On everyday basis, I use skim milk (2 percent milk). For special occasions, use whole milk. White Poppy Seeds- White poppy seeds make badam milk creamy. A little go a long way. Spices - Black Pepper, Green Cardamom, Saffron
How To Make Badam Milk (Step Pictures)
Soak the almonds overnight. Or if you are in a hurry, add almonds to a bowl and pour boiling water on top. Leave for 10 minutes. In a separate bowl soak the black peppercorns and poppy seeds. I soak overnight.
Pro Tip - Soaking softens the spices. This aids the blending process without needing to run the grinder on high speed. High speed generates heat which reduces the flavor and potency of spices.
Peel the almonds. Add to a blender along with black peppercorns & poppy seeds. Also add the seeds of green cardamom right now if you like a strong flavor (I add them whole while milk is boiling). Add about ¼ cup water and blend to a smooth paste.
Tip :- If you have sil batta at home, grind the paste using it. Tip :- You may store ground almond mixture in the fridge for a week. Use as needed. It is so convenient to make badam milk anytime.
In a small sauce pan or milk pot, melt ghee. Add a small quantity of ground almost paste. As a rule of thumb I add 1 to 1.5 tablespoon of paste for 1.5 cup milk. On low heat, saute the paste for about 2-3 minutes. This imparts a nice toasty aroma to badam milk. Add the milk and sugar next. Once milk boils then lower the heat and simmer the milk mixture for 5-8 minutes to develop flavors. Stir at regular intervals to make sure milk is not sticking to bottom of the pot. Pour in a cup and add a few saffron strands on top. You may also add a pinch of green cardamom powder to make an extra aromatic drinkServe immediately.
Pro Tip :- If you wish to serve it chilled, refrigerate badam milk for 4-5 hours. Serve over ice cubes! Yum!
How To Make Badam Powder for Badam Milk
If you are interested in making a dry badam powder, here is the method. To make Badam Milk - Simply add a tablespoon of the powder to 1- 1.5 cup full-fat milk and simmer for 6-7 minutes. Sweeten as you like.
Tips & Variations
A few variations you could try
Deluxe - Use half and half or whole fat milk for making this. Kid friendly - Add whipped cream on top. Extra Rich & Creamy - Add 5-6 whole cashews while blending for a super creamy texture. Add rose water for an exotic taste if you are serving badam milk chilled. Use fresh badam when making this recipe. Make a fine paste of almonds, coarse paste is very unpleasant to drink.
If you love milk based drinks, do checkout other recipes like thandai & rose falooda.
