Mughlai bread · Saffron and milk
Sheermal Recipe (Saffron Milk Bread)
Milk, not water. Saffron twice. Brush when hot.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenSheermal is a Mughlai flatbread made with milk instead of water, sweetened lightly and scented with saffron and cardamom. It goes dry and pale at home when underglazed. The fix is a milk and ghee dough, saffron in both dough and glaze, and brushing the bread with saffron milk the moment it leaves the oven.
The 3 laws of sheermal
Why this recipe works
Water dough
Soft and rich.
Once
Deep colour and aroma.
Cold
Soaks in.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Sheermal
The NineFoods sheermal gauge
Is it baked?
Look at the colour.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Dough
- Knead dough with milk, ghee, saffron and cardamom; rise.
Shape
- Roll rounds, prick all over with a fork.
Bake
- Bake on a hot tray. Use the gauge above.
- Brush with saffron milk and ghee immediately.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Not brushed.
Fix next time
Brush when hot.
Why
Little saffron.
Fix next time
Use saffron in dough and glaze.
Why
Under-risen.
Fix next time
Rise until doubled.
Why
Extra sugar.
Fix next time
Use 3 tbsp.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Saffron | Colour | Pinch of turmeric for colour only |
| Ghee | Richness | Butter |
| Milk | Softness | Half milk, half water |
| Oven | Baking | Covered tawa |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Nihari, korma and paya.
Store
Freeze 1 month.
Reheat
Warm oven wrapped in foil.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 6 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is it baked) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Sheermal FAQ
What is sheermal?
A saffron milk bread from Mughlai cooking.
What is sheermal served with?
Nihari, korma and kebabs.
Is sheermal sweet?
Lightly sweet.
Can I make it without an oven?
Yes, on a covered tawa on low heat.