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Monday, January 10, 2011

Chawal ki kheer (Rice Kheer)



Starting the New Year with a sweet treat for everyone. Happy New Year - May 2011 be as sweet as this kheer (Pudding). Rice Kheer or rice pudding is a very common dish in Bihari cuisine. The speciality of Bihari kheer is that the quantity of rice used is more than usual. Saffron is not used in the traditional recipes. Traditionally the kheer was made in earthen pots on charcoal and the kheer got the flavours of the earthen pot hence saffron was not used for extra flavouring. On all special occasions like welcoming the bride or festivals kheer is made. For the holy festival Chhath Puja kheer is made without sugar but since it's cooked on very low flame in earthen pots and the basmati rice gives it a very nice flavour and a delicate aroma. Use very good quality rice to get a nice flavour. Lets proceed to the recipe of kheer.

Ingredients-

Milk - 1 ltr
Basmati Rice - 1/2 cup
Ghee (Clarified Butter) - 1 tspn
Sugar - 3/4th cup
Almonds (Badam) - 15-20
Pistachio (Pista) -  2 tblspn
Nutmeg powder (Jaiphal Powder) - grated - 2 pinch
Green cardamom powder (Hari elaichi powder) - 1/2 tspn
Saffron strands -(Kesar) a pinch + a little pinch for the garnish.

Method -
  1. Wash basmati rice and soak it for half an hour.
  2. Drain and keep it aside.
  3. Heat ghee in a vessel and roast the rice to a pinkish colour.
  4. Keep it aside.
  5. In a deep vessel boil milk.
  6. Reduce the milk by boiling and keep stirring.
  7. When reduced to half add rice and sugar.
  8. Stir well. Reduce flame and let it simmer.
  9. Keep stirring.
  10. Add saffron and stir well.
  11. Add nutmeg powder and Green cardamom powder.
  12. Keep simmering and stirring on very low flame.
  13. Add pistachio very finely chopped. Mix and stir.
  14. Add Almonds very finely chopped.
  15. Keep stirring .
  16. When the consistency gets thick switch off the gas.
  17. Let it cool. When cooled mix well again.
  18. Transfer into serving bowls.
  19. Sprinkle cardamom and nutmeg powder.
  20. Sprinkle pistachio finely chopped.
  21. Sprinkle crushed saffron
  22. Garnish with half almond as shown in the pic.
  23. Best to have it chilled. (in Summers)
  24. Can be served hot or at room temperature as well. (For winters)

8 comments:

  1. That's one of my favorite dishes. It is also easy to make it in the pressure cooker - less fuel :-)

    The picture makes me want to eat it RIGHT NOW!

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  2. Hi Vidya, Thanks to know that the pics are mouth watering and yeah I do agree that the pressure cooker method is fast and less-fuel. Thks for visiting my site and keep visiting more...rgds, Manjusha

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  3. @Shanthi- glad to read ur lovely comments. pls do try it out u wud certainly luv it. manjusha

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  4. I am great dessert lover, whenever i prepare Kheer, it just gets disappear with the fraction of second. I love to try different dishes in different styles. Last weekend I have made Kheer recipe at home, i refer it from Living Foodz. I will surely try this chawal ki Kheer recipe too.

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  5. I never use Nutmeg powder in kheer ever. Now I will definitely try this option 😜

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