Mishti Doi is a classic Bengali sweet made using milk, yogurt culture, and Jaggery/sugar. Misthi means sweet and Doi means yogurt, so in short, it can be called sweetened yogurt. Today I am making Mishti Doi in Instant Pot using Evaporated Milk.

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Difference between Normal Yogurt and Mishti Doi

The difference between normal yoghurt and Mishti Doi is that the first Mishti Doi is sweetened. Secondly, it is made of thickened milk. That is the milk is reduced and thicken and then the sweetener and yoghurt are being added. As the milk is reduced it adds a nice rich and luxurious taste to the yoghurt.

It is best to make yoghurt in earthen pots. The earthen pots help in removing the excess moisture from the yoghurt and it is set nice and thick. It even helps to set the right temperature to set the yogurt. Hence traditionally yogurts are set in earthen pots.

Misthi Doi and Bhapa Doi

Another modified form of Mishti Doi is Bhapa Doi. Here the curd culture is mixed with milk and either baked or steamed on the stovetop. So there is a difference between the two types of yoghurt and the way it is set.

Flavors in Mishti Doi

Mishti Doi is generally not flavoured, but some add cardamom to give it a nice flavour. Then again with fusions, you can have different types of fruit or spice-infused yoghurt. The possibilities are endless.

Homemade Yogurt

I love homemade yoghurt. As the taste and texture are different from the store-bought ones. Also, homemade yoghurt has that taste and after 3-4 days it has that sourness that is required in a lot of Indian dishes. Hence I prefer to make yoghurt at home.

Mishti Doi in Instant Pot

But, If you are living in a cold climate setting yoghurt is a difficult task. I have tried setting it in different ways. Like using a blanket, or setting it up in the oven. It does set but at times the yoghurt becomes slimy as it takes long hours to set. So my Instant Pot comes to the rescue. I have made this Mishti Doi in Instant Pot and it was set perfectly and within time. It was nice and thick with the perfect texture.

Recipe Process of Mishti Doi

I have also used Evaporated Milk tin, instead of reducing the milk to half on the stovetop. It helped me save around 40-60 minutes reducing milk. Of course, you can use normal milk and reduce it, but Evaporated milk is the same and hence I preferred that.

All I did was boil the evaporated milk. This was just to add some cream to the milk. Then let it cool down a bit. Added jaggery to it and mixed it. Remember jaggery should never be added in hot milk as it will curdle the milk.

Once the temperature of the milk has come down further, i.e something like lukewarm, and you are able to touch it with your finger, add in the yoghurt culture. Give it a nice mix. I like to use a whisker to mix it properly and even incorporate some air in the mixture, which helps in setting up thick milk. I then added cardamom powder to give it a nice flavour. You can skip it if required. Rest I let it sit in the Instant pot under Yogurt mode for 8 hours. Once done, I let it cool in the refrigerator to set it further. That’s it you can enjoy it nice and cool.

Check out how thick it turned out, in the video and pic below.

Thickness and texture of Mishti Doi as seen in a spoon

Few more Bengali Recipes on my blog

Mishti Doi in Instant Pot using Evaporated Milk

Mishti Doi in Instant Pot using Evaporated Milk is an easy, quick and a classic Bengali sweet yogurt, sweetened with Jaggery.

4.84 from 6 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Bengali, Indian

Keyword: Instant Pot Recipes, Milk / Condensed Milk / Evaporated Milk / Milk Powder, Yogurt / Curd

Author: Renu Agrawal-Dongre

Equipment

Heavy Bottom Pot to boil milk
Pot/Container (To set yogurt)
Instant Pot (Optional)

Ingredients

1 Can Evaporated Milk – 400 grams
2 tablespoon of yogurt culture
⅓ cup 35 grams of Powdered Jaggery
½ teaspoon cardamom powder

Instructions

In a heavy bottom, pot add in the evaporated milk.
On a slow stovetop, let the milk come to a boil.
Once boiled let it cool down slightly. (around 8-10 minutes)
After 8-10 minutes add in the powdered jaggery and mix it until the jaggery is dissolved.
The temperature of the milk will reduce further.
Once you have achieved a lukewarm temperature, i.e. around 48 Deg C add in the yogurt.
I generally check it simply by dipping a clean finger. If able to touch it I add the yogurt. I have added the temperature here, for my readers who are unable to do so.
Add in the cardamom powder if using, and slightly mix.
Mix the yogurt culture in the milk using a whisk until it is all mixed.
Now pour the mixture in individual pots or 1 single pot as you prefer.
Cover with a plate or an aluminum foil.
If setting, without Instant Pot, Let it sit in a warm place undisturbed for 8-10 hours or best overnight.

Instant Pot Method

Switch on the Instant pot. Add around 1 cup of water in the insert.
Put the pots inside the insert.
Set the instant pot on yogurt mode for 8 hours.
Close the lid and let the yogurt set.
After 8 hours, open the Instant Pot.
Remove the pots.
Check the video above on how beautifully it has set. This was right after I removed the yogurt pots from the Instant pot

Cooling in the fridge after the yogurt is set

Once set, refrigerate in the fridge for a couple of hours.
Garnish with saffron and pistachio if required.
Serve it chilled.

Notes

1 Cup = 235 ml, 1 tbsp= 15 ml, 1 tsp = 5 ml
One can use normal milk and reduce it instead of using Evaporated milk.
In that case, reduce it to half. It is always advisable to use full-fat milk to set yogurt, to set it nice and thick.
One can add Sugar instead of Jaggery.
Jaggery should never be added in hot milk as it will curdle the milk.

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Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist. The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It varies depending upon the product types or brands.

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4.84 from 6 votes (3 ratings without comment)

Chetan Mehta

Monday 6th of November 2023

Excellent idea to use evaporated milk as it greatly reduces the required time! I made it following your recipe and let the yogurt set in the Instant Pot. Came out great!

Renu Agrawal Dongre

Thank you so much for your feedback. Glad it came out great

Nafisa

Tuesday 31st of January 2023

Just made it. Perfect taste.Can I make it directly in the inner pot of the instant pot wothout the water bath? Thanks

Wednesday 1st of February 2023

Thank you. I think yes, but I have never made it. I generally use pip method for yogurt as we cook different stuff in it and milk might curdle. Also if I can request you to rate the recipe, it helps others as well as my blog.

Pooja Agrawal

Monday 8th of November 2021

This looks great can’t wait to try it. Can I keep earthen pots in insta pot? I wasn’t sure if it can go or will it break ?

Thanks!

Tuesday 9th of November 2021

Yes, you can. As you see in the pic, I have kept it.

Srividhya Gopalakrishnan

Friday 9th of October 2020

Evaporated milk is such a boon and so is Instant Pot. That mishti doi is so creamy and love the way you served.

Arun

Monday 21st of September 2020

Thanks, Renu for the mouth-watering recipe. This dessert looks appealing. I have read reviews on the use of Instant Pot. I do prefer homemade yoghurt. I must very soon purchase an instant pot for setting a perfect yoghurt. I look for healthy and tasty recipes like the above in blogs sites.

Thank You