Turmeric Saffron Pistachio Milk

Name: Turmeric Saffron Pistachio Milk
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 4 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 4 cups Whole Milk (or low-fat, non-fat, or any other milk you prefer including plant-based milk); ¼ TSP Saffron; 1.5 TSP Turmeric powder; ½ TSP ground Cardamom; ½ TSP ground Cinnamon; 2.5 TBLS chopped Pistachios (or use pistachio powder if you prefer); 2-4 TBLS Honey, to taste

by Lavina // posted March 23, 2020

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This Turmeric Saffron Pistachio Milk is quick and easy to make in less than ten minutes, full of spicy and sweet notes, and has several health benefits thanks to turmeric! It’s also naturally sweetened with honey, and it can be enjoyed warm or chilled!

Yellow turmeric milk with spices in black saucepan.

You may think this is another Golden Milk or Moon Milk recipe. But it is not. Or at least, it wasn’t inspired by those two yummy health promoting beverages.

You see, my mom makes this delicious Indian dessert called Ras Malai. It is basically balls made of chenna (an Indian type of cottage cheese) and semolina that are first cooked in a sugary syrup, then cooled and squeezed to let out the excess syrup. The balls are then placed in an aromatic thick milk made with pistachios, sugar, saffron, and cardamom, then chilled in the refrigerator before being served as a dessert.

Growing up, the thick, sweet, and fragrant milk was my favorite thing about the dessert. 💛 My mom would always make extra milk for me (with plenty of sugar at per my request! 🤩) to drink as a chilled dessert drink.

Now that I’m older (hate you 30…) and slightly wiser, I’ve realized that all that sugar wasn’t and isn’t ideal for my body. So hence I made this delicious Turmeric Saffron Pistachio Milk with a natural sweetener – honey! I also added my own twist to my mom’s Ras Malai milk by adding turmeric and cinnamon for some spicy-sweet notes!

Two drink glasses with yellow turmeric milk with spices.

Thanks to the addition of turmeric, this drink:

Promotes better sleep
Boosts your immune system
Has healing and anti-inflammatory properties
Aids digestion
Detoxifies your body

It’s creamy, comforting, and super tasty! Whether you choose to have it warm or cold, I really think you’re really going to love this milky delight! 🤗

So without further ado, let’s make some Turmeric Saffron Pistachio Milk!

Milk in a measuring cup, squeeze bottle of honey, small round ingredient bowls with turmeric powder, ground cardamom, finely chopped pistachios, cinnamon, and saffron.

INGREDIENTS

Here’s what you’ll need for this delicious and soothing beverage:

Milk: I like to use whole milk, but you’re welcome to use any milk you prefer. Low-fat, non-fat, or even a plant-based milk such as almond milk or Oatly will work.
Saffron: Just a pinch of this incredible spice can give the milk a wonderful sweet floral flavor and color. But I must add that saffron is known as the world’s most expensive spice. If you don’t have it on hand or don’t want to go out of your way to purchase it, you can omit it. The milk will still taste great!
Turmeric powder: This wonderful spice is what makes this delicious milk yellow and beneficial to your health.
Ground Cardamom: For a nice, spicy and citrusy flavor.
Ground Cinnamon: For a spicy-sweet flavor.
Pistachios: Finely chopped so that it is almost powder-like in texture. You can also use pistachio powder if that’s easy to find for you.
Honey: To sweeten our tasty healing milk! Use as much or as little as you like.

Yellow turmeric milk with spices in a tall fancy glass with a straw.

HOW TO MAKE TURMERIC SAFFRON PISTACHIO MILK

Simply…

Heat Milk: Heat the milk over medium-high heat in a medium sized saucepan or pot until it comes to a slow simmer (not boil).
Add everything else: Add the saffron, turmeric powder, ground cardamom, ground cinnamon, chopped pistachios, and honey to taste. Stir everything to combine and simmer for a five to six minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Taste and add more honey if needed, then switch off the heat.
Serve!: Pour into glasses and serve warm…

Yellow turmeric milk with spices in a two small drink glasses.

…Or you can serve it chilled after refrigerating for an hour!

Hand holding up a glass with yellow turmeric milk with spices and a straw.

You can also cool the milk for 20-30 minutes, then store in a sealed jug or pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You’re welcome to reheat it again if you like, or just serve it chilled.

Top view of tall glass with yellow turmeric milk with spices.

Full ingredient amounts/instructions in recipe card below.

VARIATIONS

You’re welcome to customize this milk drink if you like. You can…

Add additional spices: Ground ginger (or freshly grated ginger) and black pepper would give this milky drink treat a nice kick of heat!
Use other nuts: Swap the chopped pistachios for chopped almonds, hazelnuts, macadamias, cashews, etc.
Add extract: You can add a splash of almond or vanilla extract for a lovely essence!
Make it vegan: Use a dairy-free plant-based milk such as almond milk, Oatly, and coconut milk instead of whole milk.

Top view of glass with yellow turmeric milk with spices in a tall fancy glass with a straw, and turmeric milk in a black saucepan.

MORE BEVERAGES AND DRINKS YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Biscoff Apple Milkshake (a sweet, caramelly, and delightful drink that’ll boost your mood!)
Blueberry Banana Smoothie (loaded with antioxidants and guaranteed to get your day off to a good start!)
Feel free to browse the entire Drinks recipe collection here on That Spicy Chick.