The humble ‘Rice Kheer’ is every family’s favourite dessert. Commonly called as, khir, payasam, payasa or kheeri, rice Kheer is nothing but rice pudding made with finest quality of basmati rice (small grained) and milk and dry fruits. It is one of those year-round favourite sweet dish that is made in every occasion or even any small family gatherings. Rice Kheer is soft, creamy, rich and a delight for the taste buds. It is the perfect dessert for the ones who has a sweet tooth. Served either hot or chilled, rice Kheer altogether has a diferent experience of satisfaction.
Rice Kheer Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1/4th cup Basmati rice
- 4-5 cups full fat milk
- 2-3 tbsp. of condensed milk
- 2-3 cardamom seeds (crushed)
- 2 tbsp. almonds (blanched)
- A pinch of saffron threads
- 1 tbsp. skinned pistachio nuts (chopped)
- 1 tbsp. raisins
- 2-3 tbsp. sugar or as desired
Preparation:
Start your cooking with few preparation:
- Soak saffron in 1 tbsp. of warm milk and keep aside for 30 mins. To bring out the best colour.
- Wash and soak the rice for 30 mins
- Gently roast the dry fuitis in a tsp. of ghee to bring out the flavours.
- In a heavy bottom pan (non-stick), Heat milk
- When the milk begins to boil, slowly drain & add the rice and on low flame let it simmer gently until the rice is soft and the grains are starting to break up.
- Keep stirring occasionally to avoid sticking of rice on the bottom of the pan.
- Cook it for about 30 – 40 mins till the quantity of the mixture is reduced to 3/4 of its original volume.
- Now add chopped almonds, pistachio, soaked saffron, crushed cardamom and raisins and simmer for another 5 minutes. Keep on stirring it gently at regular interval.
- Add the condensed milk & required amount sugar and stir until completely dissolved.
- Remove the rice kheer from heat in a serving dish and let it cool.
- Later garnish with chopped almonds, Pista & Raisins.
- You can serve the rice kheer either warm or chilled as you prefer.
There are many variations and names of this sweet treat all over India as per the given geography. It can also be made with broken wheat, tapioca or vermicelli. Kheer is typically served as a dessert and is often made as an offering during prayer ceremonies or festive occasions. Kheer is indeed the perfect sweet dish to celebrate a festival/ occasion or just cook it up as an after-meal dessert at home.
The author is a designer turned food blogger. She loves experimenting with foods & every time it turns out to be a perfect recipe. She has a sweet tooth & craves for it most often. Rice kheer is her favourite Indian Dessert & she has learnt different styles of making it from Living Foodz channel.