SAFFRON AND PISTACHIO / KESAR PISTA SHORTBREAD
I love desserts with saffron and pistachio. They are quintessentially Indian and the flavours can be used in a variety of sweet recipes. Kesar Pista Ice Cream in the summertime is one of my personal favourites! Kesar Pista Coconut Ladoo is great for special occasions. You can also add badam or almond to the flavours like we have done with Kesar, Badam Pista Barfi I had in mind to make saffron and pistachio biscuits of some sort during Diwali but the recipe got delayed. I then gave these a go with shortbread and couldn’t be happier with the results.
Why these are the best buttery shortbread cookies ever!
I am a huge fan of shortbread. I remember first trying proper Scottish Shortbread during a trip to Edinburgh for Hogmanay. I instantly fell in love! The shortbread were light and buttery. The texture is so different to supermarket shortbread. Supermarket shortbread tends to be harder but these shortbreads, shaped in petticoat tails, were extremely melt-in-the-mouth. This recipe also achieves similar textures with a pop of flavour.
Kesar Pista Shortbread/Saffron Pistachio Shortbread
Perfect at Diwali
This shortbread, with their addition of traditional saffron and pistachio, would go wonderfully as an addition to Diwali sweets. They would also be perfect during Ramadan and Eid. Check out our 19 Best Barfi Peda recipes for more Diwali inspiration.
Perfect over Christmas
Bake these over Christmas with the family and revel in the wonderful warm aroma of the aromatic expensive spice Saffron.
Ingredients:
● Plain flour – we have used white plain flour also known as All-Purpose flour. You may use whole wheat flour (chapati atta) but the results won’t be the same as plain flour. Shortbread made with whole wheat flour turns out dense and not as flaky. ● Sugar – golden caster sugar, which is more finely ground than regular granulated sugar. It dissolves quicker than normal sugar in creamed mixtures, whips and more. ● Unsalted butter works best for shortbreads. For an authentic recipe do not replace butter with oil. ● Pistachio – we have ground the pistachio finely and added to the recipe. Do not use salted pistachios as they will not work in a sweet recipe. ● Saffron – use saffron threads. For a cheaper alternative, you can use safflower We have used dried rose petals for photographic purpose only.
How to make Shortbread
Ways to decorate this shortbread
I was undecided as how to decorate this shortbread and flitted between keeping them plain or adding some icing. In the end, I decided to sprinkle some with pistachio powder. I would say around a day before is fine. Don’t want to use nuts? Decorate using chocolate. Just dip a half side of completely cooled shortbread in melted chocolate. It can be white, milk, dark or ruby.
Tips
Storage
I have found that this shortbread softens very quickly so do not make a large batch and store away but eaten within a day or so. Keep stored in a biscuit tin.
Serving
These moreish shortbreads are best served with a cup of Masala Chai or Karak Chai in the mid-morning but they are equally good with homemade billionaire’s latte in the afternoon too. I sometimes love to have a couple with our Kesar badam milk 😄 Other egg-free cookies Nankhatai Linzer cookies Coconut and cardamom whole wheat cookies Did you like this recipe? PIN IT FOR LATER
