Indian Bread Pudding (Double Ka Meeta)

Ingredients

• 10 slices bread, crusts removed and bread cut into triangles diagonally
• 1 cup vegetable oil for frying, or as needed
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup chopped almonds
• 1/4 cup chopped cashews

Directions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).

Place bread triangles onto a baking sheet and toast in the preheated oven until lightly browned and dry, about 5 minutes per side.

Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry bread triangles, working in batches, until golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove bread with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.

Whisk sugar, water, and cardamom together in a saucepan; cook over medium heat until syrup has reduced slightly, 10 to 15 minutes. Dip bread triangles into syrup until fully soaked and transfer to a plate.

Simmer milk in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat. Transfer soaked bread triangles to the simmering milk; cook over low heat until the milk is absorbed into the bread and the fat separates, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in raisins. Garnish with almonds and cashews.