Mom's Perfect Theritipaal (South Indian Milk "Fudge")

Anu's Note:

This is a rich South Indian sweet that my mom makes perfectly every time! Thertipaal is a type of "fudge" made of basically 3 ingredients: milk, milk powder, and sugar. It is often made during Indian festivals as a holy offering to the Gods. Unlike American fudges, this does not "set", and has the texture of rather gooey fudge. It is rather time-consuming, but well worth the effort! Caution: It's rather heavy on your tummy, so go easy on it... even though you won't want to stop eating this! :-)

• Total Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 0 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 8

Yield: 3.0 cups

• 1 liter milk
• 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder or 1/2 cup skim milk powder
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water

Directions:

1. Boil milk in a heavy-bottomed pot and then lower the flame to medium.
2. Let the milk simmer till it reduces to one-fourth of the original quantity (about 30 minutes), stirring every 5 minutes for a whole minute.
3. Make a thick paste of the milk powder with 1 cup water.
4. Add it to the reduced milk and again bring it to a boil, stirring continuously.
5. Simmer again for 10 minutes.
6. Now add sugar, mix well, bring to a boil, and then reduce flame to a simmer.
7. After about 20 minutes, when the mixture reduces into a coarse, thick batter (almost lumpy, like dense muffin-batter), remove from flame.
8. Let it stand until cooled to room temperature.
9. Spoon into dessert bowls and serve warm, or chilled.