Description
A creamy and delicious Indian rice pudding made with short-grain rice, milk, and flavored with cardamom and saffron.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 tablespoons uncooked short-grain starchy white rice
- 4 cups whole milk (full-fat milk)
- 15–20 strands saffron (optional)
- 15–20 raisins
- ¼ cup finely grated dry coconut
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon cardamom powder (hari elaichi powder)
- 2 tablespoons slivered almonds and cashew nuts
Instructions
- Rinse rice with water 2-3 times and soak it in ½ cup water for 30 minutes.
- Heat milk in a heavy-bottom pan over medium-high heat.
- Stir frequently to avoid scorching.
- When it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low.
- Drain the water from the rice and add the rice to the pan along with saffron, raisins, and dry coconut.
- Note – Do not add dry coconut unless the milk boils; otherwise, it might curdle.
- Cook uncovered on low heat until the rice is cooked and the kheer is thickened (45-50 minutes).
- While cooking, keep mashing with the back of the ladle.
- Stir very frequently while cooking.
- Keep scraping the sides of the pan and add the solidified milk back to the pan.
- Note – The perfectly cooked kheer will be thick and creamy, like a chunky custard, and have rice grains almost incorporated into the milk.
- Keep in consideration that the kheer will thicken some more once cooled.
- Once the kheer has thickened, stir in the sugar and cardamom powder and cook for a minute.
- Check for sugar, add more if required, and cook for another minute for it to dissolve.
- Note – Never add sugar before the rice is fully cooked. The rice stops cooking as soon as the sugar is added, and if it’s not cooked well, you will be left with uncooked grains.
- Transfer the kheer to small serving bowls. Garnish with almond and cashew nut slivers and dried rose petals, and serve hot or chilled.
Notes
- Ensure to soak the rice properly for better texture.
- The kheer will thicken further upon cooling, so adjust consistency accordingly.
- For additional flavor, consider adding a pinch of nutmeg.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 30mg