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    Home / Dessert / Juju Dhau

    Juju Dhau

    Bhaktapur’s legendary king of yogurts — thick, sweet, and creamy, traditionally set in clay pots until it is almost custard.

    ⏱ 15 minPrep time
    🔥 20 minCook time
    🍽 6Servings
    🏷 DessertCategory
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    Juju dhau, meaning king of yogurts, comes from the old city of Bhaktapur, where it has been made in clay pots for centuries. The secret is in the pot — the clay breathes as the yogurt sets, drawing out moisture and leaving a texture like thick custard. Sweetened with condensed milk and scented with cardamom, it is served at weddings, festivals, and every celebration worth marking. Visitors to Bhaktapur make the pilgrimage just for a pot of it.

    The king of yogurts, set slow and sweet

    This is yogurt that holds its shape on the spoon — dense and velvety, with a clean sweetness and a faint floral note of cardamom. It is richer than any yogurt you have met, closer to a very light custard or panna cotta. Chilled and topped with pistachios and almonds, it is a dessert that feels both simple and special, and it is impossible to stop at one spoonful.

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    Step by stepInstructions

    1. Pour the milk into a heavy pot and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Cook 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until it reduces by about a quarter.
    2. Remove from the heat and whisk in the condensed milk, sugar, cardamom, and saffron if using. Cool until warm to the touch, about 110°F.
    3. Whisk a few spoonfuls of the warm milk into the yogurt starter, then stir it all back into the pot.
    4. Pour into a clay pot or glass bowls and cover loosely.
    5. Keep warm — in a barely warm oven or a cozy spot — for 6 to 8 hours, until set. Do not jostle it.
    6. Chill for at least 2 hours, then top with the pistachios and almonds before serving.

    💡 Chef tips & storage

    The starter yogurt must be plain and alive; anything ultra-pasteurized may not set. If your kitchen is cool, wrap the pot in a towel while it sets.

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    Recipe details

    Prep15 min
    Cook20 min
    Servings6
    CategoryDessert
    PublishedAugust 17, 2026
    Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

    Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

    Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

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