Maquti (some people call it Makuti which is not the correct pronunciation) is one of my favourite sweet dishes. The authentic version is normally prepared during Muslim marriages in Bihar especially Patna. It is served in small earthen bowls (called Dhakni). After it is cooked it is poured in these Dhakni's and left to get thicker once it gets colder. In marriage dinners (Shadi ka Khana) hundreds of these dhakni's are arranged in rows on tables for people to have them as dessert.
Its taste is truly sublime. I have had desserts and sweet dishes around the world but nothing compares with it. It is a mystery to me why it has not become popular in the rest of India or even in other parts of the world. Perhaps because it has not been marketed properly. Or maybe it is difficult to cook.
In India whenever Maquti would be prepared on occasion of marriage or any other function, I would store away these dhaknis and would have it for many days. I am salivating now writing this -:)
I don't think many people outside Bihar have even heard of Maquti. They are missing something !
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Total Time: 15 mins
Serves: 4 to 5 people
Ingredients:
100 gms yellow mung dal soaked in water for 2 hours Or overnight
50 gms rice soaked in water for 2 hours Or overnight
250 mltr milk
100 gms grated jaggery
7 to 8 almonds
7 to 8 cashewnuts
7 to 8 raisins
3 to 4 green cardamom powder Or whole cardamom
1 t/s saffron (kesar)
2 cups water
50 gms mava/khoya (dried whole milk)
Method:
Soak rice and mung dal for about 2 hours Or overnight in 1 cup water for each. I don’t have pic for this one.
Firstly boil soaked mung dal and rice along with water in a heavy bottomed pan. Cook for more 5 to 6 mins.
Once it starts boiling add all dryfruits. Cook on low heat for another 2 mins.
Add grated jaggery and keep stirring continuously for another 2 mins
It’s time to add mava/khoya and milk into the mixture. Let it boil for another 5 mins
By now the mixture will thicken. Infuse saffron with little hot milk. Add saffron infused milk and crushed green cardamom into it.
Let this boil for another 4 mins. Now switch off the gas. Serve this hot Or chilled. I just could not resist hence had it hot hot
Tip
You could skip dry fruits if you wish to.
Vegans can make this in coconut milk.
If jaggery isn’t available you could use sugar.
In replacement of mava/khoya you could use condensed milk. But be careful while adding sugar than as condensed milk is sweet already
Maquti or muzaffarshola as it is known in Bihar. It is traditionally prepared in muslim weddings and served in earthern bowls. It is also prepared in Andhra Pradesh where it is known as Pesara pappu payasam, where Pesarapappu means moong dal and payasam means kheer.
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