Masala Doodh - Kojagiri Poornima Special Recipe / Festive Cooking / Healthy Flavored Milk Recipe / Indian Winter Recipe

Kojagiri Poornima or Sharad Poornima is an Indian festival to invoke the blessings of Moon God. It falls on the full moon day of Ashwin month in Hindu calendar. In Maharashtra Kojagiri Poornima is celebrated by staying awake through out the night and singing  Bhajans and praising Goddess Lakshmi. It is believed that Moon God is the brother of Goddess Lakshmi and so it is said that on the day of Kojagiri , Goddess Lakshmi comes and blesses the people who stay awake on this night.

As a Maharashtrian , the main attraction for me on this day is the Masala Doodh , a nut and spice flavoured condensed milk . Many people fast on this day and make this Masala Doodh and keep the milk in a container directly under the Moonlight as a prasad and get blessings from Moon God. It is believed that Moon gets closer to Earth on this night and pours its light in this milk in the form of nectar(Amrit) and who ever takes this milk gets blessed.  People sit under this moon light to absorb this moonlight and purify their body and soul and get rid of negativity.

The Masala Doodh is a delicious sweet condensed milk enriched with nuts and flavoured with spices like Saffron , Nutmeg and green Cardamom. A healthy drink which can be enjoyed by any age group. Can be served as a warm nourishing drink during winters and on special occasions and festivals. In Maharashtra we serve this drink during Satyanarayan Katha , on special fasts like Ekadashi and Navratri .

Video Recipe For Masala Doodh using Homemade Doodh Masala 

Ingredients:

• 1 liter Milk (4 Cups). I have used fresh Cow Milk
• 5-7 tbsp of Sugar ( or as per Taste)
• 1/4 cup Nuts of your choice (i have used Almonds, and Pistachios)
• 2 tsp Chironji /Charoli 
• Few strands of Saffron
• 1 tsp of Sweet Masala ( Cardamom and Nutmeg powder)

Method:

1. Bring 1 liter milk to boil in a heavy bottom sauce pan over a medium heat. 

  2.  Now lower the flame and let the milk reduce to half its quantity. Keep scrapping the sides and stirring in between to make sure the milk does not stick to the bottom. Mean while dry roast the nuts and chop them .  Once the milk has reduced to desired thickness, add in the sugar.

  3. Stir well until the sugar dissolves . Now add the saffron strands followed by roasted and chopped Almonds and Pistachios. 

  4.  Mix well and add the Chironji . Let the milk simmer for 4-5 minutes more. 

5.  Lastly add the Sweet Masala , mix well and put off the flame after 1 minute.

  6.  Serve hot or chilled and enjoy !!

Wishing you all a very happy Kojagiri Poornima !! May Goddess Lakshmi bless you with good health , fortune and Prosperity !!!