Recipe: Thandai Chia Pudding
Thandai Chia Pudding is an easy to make, protein rich snack or dessert. An alternate to the traditional chia pudding, this one is flavoured with some homemade thandai powder. Ideal to serve as a dessert option for your Holi Party. Or enjoy it for breakfast on Holi or any fasting day.
Sharing Thandai Chia Pudding Recipe With Desi Bloggers Connect Group
The Festival Of Colours is just round the corner. And everyone is planning what food to serve friends and families to enjoy the festival. Like many festivals in India, it celebrates the good over evil. It also marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, but take it from me I don’t think there was a spring season in Bangalore, from winter it went straight into summer. It is very hot here. The Theme this month is Holi Ke Rang. We prepare any food that is apt for the Holi Festival.
What Is Thandai?
Thandai is a mixture of spices, nuts and dried rose petals which comes in the form of a powder or syrup. It is added to milk and everyone enjoys this cool drink while playing with colours. I always feel that Holi is incomplete without thandai. Every Holi I make something different using the famous thandai powder which I make at home.
Some Recipes With Thandai You May Like
Traditional Story
Hiranyakashipu, a demon king wanted to take revenge against Lord Vishnu who had killed his younger brother. Hiranyakashipu prayed for years and was granted a special boon by Lord Brahma that literally made him indestructible. He asked Lord Brahma to grant him immortality. But Lord Brahma could not grant that wish as all must die one day. Instead of that Lord Brahma granted Hiranyakashipu how he can die..his death wish.
Hiranyakashipu requested the following: “O Brahma, no man or beast, nor devil, nor god shall cause my death by day or by night with steel or stone or wood, indoors or outdoors, on earth or in sky. Grant me undisputed lordship over the world. Brahma said,”May it be so!”
This made him very arrogant. He asked his people to worship him like God. There was much terror and fear everywhere, God has his ways and thus Hiranyakashipu’s son Prahlad was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. This made his father very angry. He decided to kill his own son as he would not stop worshipping Lord Vishnu. He asked his sister Holika who had a special boon that fire could not destroy her, to sit with young Prahlad in her lap in the huge fire. Prahlad kept on reciting Lord Vishnu’s name. Holika got burnt completely and Prahlad was saved.
After that Lord Vishnu took the form of Lord Narasimha, half man half lion and killed Hiranyakashipu. He was killed at the doorstep, at dusk, on the lap of Lord Narasimha and the tool used were the claws of a lion. This took care of the boon that he was granted. Next day people celebrated with colour and feasting.
How Did Colours Become A Part Of Holi Celebration?
This dates back to the period of Lord Krishna (reincarnation of Lord Vishnu) . It is believed that Lord Krishna used to celebrate holi with colors. Colours were made from natural materials. He used to play holi with his friends at Vrindavan and Gokul. They used to play pranks all across the village and thus made this a community event. That is why till date Holi celebrations at Vrindavan are unmatched.
For this Holi festival, I decided to make a simple but healthy dessert. Cooling, healthy and easy to make. I made a thandai chia pudding. What is thandai? Thandai is a mixture of spices, nuts and dried rose petals which comes in the form of a powder or syrup. It is added to milk and everyone enjoys this cool drink while playing with colours. I always feel that Holi is incomplete without thandai. Every Holi I make something different using the famous thandai powder which I make at home.
Check Out What Fellow Bloggers Made For Holi Ke Rang
Gujiya– Avin
Thandai – Geetanjali
Rose Lassi – Geetha
Moong Dal Laddoo – Jagruti
Thandai Gujiya-handpie – Lata
Kesar Phirni – Priya
Thandai Powder – Ruchi
Mawa Kachori – Swaty
Moong Dal Dahi Bhalla – Vanitha
Ingredients Required For Thandai Chia Pudding
Milk
Full fat milk is best for a creamy pudding. However, choose any milk of your choice. For a vegan version use plant based milk. I would recommend almond, cashew or coconut milk.
Fennel Seeds
Need a few fennel seeds or valiyari, saunf to prepare the thandai powder.
Almonds
We need some toasted almonds for the thandai powder or masala. We also need som chopped or sliced almonds for garnishing.
Poppy Seeds
Preferably white, need a bit for the thandai masala. Omit if not available in your area.
Peppercorns
White or black peppercorns for the thandai masala.
Saffron
Use good quality saffron for flavour. We will be adding a few threads to the thandai masala.
Pistachio
For the thandai masala and some chopped or sliced for garnishing.
Cardamom
Elachi, we need some for the thandai masala.
Dried Rose Petals
For the thandai masala. Make sure the dried rose petals are organic. Also need some for garnishing.
Chia Seeds
For the pudding we need about ¼ cup chia seeds. The seeds will soak and swell up in the milk to create a pudding like consistency.
Sugar
Add according to your taste. If you don’t want to use sugar then replace it with honey, maple syrup or any sweetener of your choice.

THANDAI CHIA PUDDING
Ingredients
FOR THANDAI MASALA| POWDER
- 1 tbsp fennel seeds
- 3-4 peppercorns
- 1 tbsp poppy seeds
- a generous pinch of saffron
- 6-8 almonds
- 8-12 pistachios
- ¼ tsp cardamom
- 1 tbsp dried rose petals
FOR THE CHIA PUDDING
- 1 cup milk approximately 200ml
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- 2-3 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp thandai masala or powder
FOR GARNISHING
- almonds and pistachios chopped
- a few strands of saffron
- rose petals
Instructions
PREPARATION OF THANDAI MASALA| POWDER
- Lightly roast the fennel seeds in a pan over low heat. Make sure they don't burn.
- Roast the poppy seeds over low heat till they begin to pop. Make sure you stir them all the time.
- Mix all the ingredients.
- Using a food processor, process the mixture into a fine powder.
- Store in an airtight container.
PREPARATION OF THANDAI CHIA PUDDING
- Mix the milk, chia seeds, sugar and thandai powder in a bowl.
- Cover the bowl with a lid and put the mixture in the fridge.
- Let the chia seeds swell till the mixture becomes thick. Best to leave it overnight in the fridge.
- Spoon the pudding into serving bowls or containers.
- Sprinkle chopped nuts, saffron and rose petals on top.
- Serve immediately or leave it in the fridge till required.
Notes
- Use honey instead of sugar.
- For a vegan version use plant based milk. Almond milk, coconut milk.
- You can make the thandai powder ahead and store it in an airtight container.
- Make the chia pudding a day ahead of the festivals.
- For a little more spicier pudding add more peppercorns.
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A Small Request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
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