Recipes Grid Inject

Homemade Thick Curd | No Milk Powder Curd

Watch the video for the complete method and curd-setting tricks!

Homemade Thick Curd Without Milk Powder

This recipe gives you thick, creamy, and stable curd that doesn’t fall even when the bowl is turned upside down — all without any milk powder or additives.

Made the traditional way using just milk and a touch of starter curd, this method is perfect for everyday use and works in all seasons with a few smart adjustments.

📝 Ingredients

  • 1 liter full cream milk
  • 2 tsp starter curd (whipped smooth)
  • ½ tsp starter curd (to coat the vessel)

👩‍🍳 Method

  1. Bring the milk to a full boil. Reduce slightly by stirring 5–10 minutes.
  2. Cool it down until lukewarm. Not too cold or too hot.
  3. Whip your starter curd till smooth.
  4. Rub a thin layer of starter curd inside the curd-setting vessel.
  5. Mix the remaining curd into the lukewarm milk and stir.
  6. Pour into prepared vessel. Cover and set overnight in a warm spot.
  7. In winter, wrap the vessel with a thick cloth for insulation.

🏺 Curd Setting in Clay (Earthen) Vessels

✅ Advantages

  • Naturally porous: keeps the curd cool and thick.
  • Enhances flavor with a mild earthy aroma.
  • Perfect for hot climates.

📝 Tips

  • Soak before first use: Soak new pots for 4–6 hrs to seal pores & prevent cracking.
  • Warm the pot: Especially in winter. Slightly warm before adding milk (not hot).
  • Coat with curd: Always rub a little curd inside to aid even fermentation.
  • Use warm milk: Around 40–45°C — like baby bath water.
  • Cover & keep warm: Wrap in cloth or keep in insulated space.
  • Don’t disturb: Let it sit for 6–10 hrs depending on weather.
  • Refrigerate after setting: This halts souring and keeps it firm.

⚠️ Don’t Use Detergents: Wash with hot water only. Soaps block pores & affect taste.

🥄 Curd Setting in Steel Vessels

✅ Advantages

  • Common in most kitchens, easy to clean.
  • Non-porous and long lasting.

📝 Tips

  • Pre-warm the vessel: Rinse with hot water or gently warm to mimic warmth.
  • Coat inside with curd: Helps avoid sticking and speeds up setting.
  • Use warm milk: ~40–45°C is ideal.
  • Add a bit more starter: Since steel loses heat quickly.
  • Wrap the vessel: Use a thick towel or insulated bag.
  • Let it rest undisturbed: Set for 7–10 hrs. Avoid moving.
  • Refrigerate once set: To retain thickness and stop souring.

🌡️ Seasonal Tip

  • Winter: Use slightly warmer milk & vessel. Increase starter slightly.
  • Summer: Use less starter. Curd sets faster, so avoid direct heat or sunlight.

🛒 Tried & Loved Tools

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links and I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

👉 Browse more recipes from Suchi’s World

⬆ Top

Popular posts from this blog

Wandering Hanoi

Image
Wandering Hanoi | A Travel Story from Suchi’s World Some places ask you to plan. Hanoi asks you to feel. I didn’t go to Hanoi with a list. I went with a vibe. That first morning, I didn’t rush off to see the sights — I wandered through alleys where scooters swerved like water and the air smelled like coconut coffee and chili oil. A woman offered lotus tea with a shy smile. Somewhere in the chaos, the city whispered, “Go slow.” And that’s how Hanoi unfolded. I wasn’t checking boxes. I was chasing feelings. 🚂 When the Train Street Shook the Ground No, it wasn’t scary. It was synchrony. I went to Train Street at night — the crowd hushed as the rails began to buzz. A waiter gestured us all to step back with the grace of someone who’s done it a hundred times. And when that train passed, thundering inches from my face, the lanterns barely moved. Somehow, everything stayed exactly where it belonged. Moments later, the street was a market again, soft with fairy lights and handmade magnets lin...
Read more

A Brew From the Vedas

Image
  A Brew From the Vedas Long before coffee shops rang in the morning, our ancestors were perfecting kadha — a powerful Ayurvedic decoction simmered in water until all its healing herbs woke up. This humble drink is mentioned in texts like the Charak Samhita , highlighting it as one of the five key ways to consume medicinal botanicals — drawing out the goodness from roots, barks, and spices into a potent remedy. Why It Warms Everything Kadha isn’t just tradition — it’s a botanical powerhouse that gets your body back in balance: Turmeric + black pepper : The inflammation-fighting, curcumin-boosting duo that helps absorb nutrients. Ginger, cinnamon, cloves, tulsi : The digestive, antiviral, and antioxidant squad. Together, they ease digestion, soothe your throat, and help detoxify. Adaptogens (ashwagandha, licorice, amla) : The stress-busting, immunity-boosting herbs that support your body’s natural defense system. My Kadha Moment Picture this: a quiet evening, ra...
Read more

Turning Monday chaos into charm — mini idli tadka with a spicy twist!

Image
  When Monday Hit Like a Pressure Cooker Monday didn’t knock — it barged in. The kid’s tiffin wasn’t planned. The fridge had exactly two useful things: leftover dosa batter and my half-forgotten optimism. Breakfast needed to be: Hot Fast Not toast (again) And preferably magical enough to distract from the fact that someone couldn’t even wait 10 minutes for poha to soak 😅 So I did what all flustered moms with a South Indian soul and a mischievous mind do — I made mini idlis . But not just plain ones. These little babies got the tadka treatment . When Panic Meets a Good Tempering There’s something about a good tadka that feels like taking back control. The mustard seeds crackle, the curry leaves dance, and for 45 seconds, you’re not thinking about emails or bus timings — you’re watching flavor happen in real time. That’s what I poured all over those soft, fresh mini idlis. Suddenly, it wasn’t just breakfast. It was a bite-sized bowl of comfort, with a kick. ...
Read more