A glass of froth

How would you like to have some froth for a winter breakfast?

Winter in most Parsi households is incomplete without at least a couple of mornings devoted to “Doodh na Puff”. It is one of the oddest and yet simplest breakfast dishes you will find anywhere in the world. In fact, some people might even refuse to accept it as a dish!

Milk is sweetened and boiled to reduce it. Then, it is poured in a pot or pan which is covered, not with a lid but a thin muslin cloth. This is then left out in the open overnight, preferably on the terrace. These days, those living in metros make do with putting it away in the refrigerator, though it’s not quite the same as the traditional way.

Next morning, before the sun comes up, this milk is taken indoors. A little Rose or Vanilla essence might be added to it (it’s optional). And then begins the actual process of making the puff. The milk is beaten with an egg beater or hand blender so that froth starts forming. This froth is carefully collected (preferably with a perforated spoon which will drain out milk) and transferred to a tall glass. It is served with a sprinkling of ground nutmeg. That, ladies and gentlemen, is Doodh na Puff. Yes, the froth is the dish!

Needless to say, the Puff is to be consumed soon after being prepared. It may sound odd, even ridiculous to the uninitiated but this is something to be tasted to be believed. You dig into the ethereal delicacy with a spoon, put it in your mouth and savour the sweet, creamy thing for a second or two before you realize it’s no longer there. The Puff takes “melt in the mouth” to a completely different level! Once all the froth in the glass is consumed, all that is left is a little milk in the bottom. Drink it up and move on to the next glass. For, it’s rather obvious that just one glass of Doodh na Puff can never be enough. You’ve got to have at least three or four if not more.

Dishes similar to Doodh na Puff are to be found in the north in the form of Daulat ki chaat, Nimish, Malai Makhan or Malaiyo. But these are embellished with Mawa, saffron and dry fruits whereas Doodh na Puff is simply sweetened milk froth and nutmeg powder. Sometimes, the simplest of things can give you great pleasure.