Kheer is a traditional Indian sweet. Kheer may be called as Rice pudding in English. In India , Kheer is given high importance than any other food. It is symbolic to festive food and special occassions. Kheer is considered good luck in various as per indian values. There is saying called "Muh meeta karlo, Subh kaam shuru karlo" which signifies the importance of sweets in India.
Basically Kheer is a sweet dish basically made of rice, milk and sugar or jaggery as its main ingredients with added flavours of nuts which is also used for decoration.

The preparation of Kheer starts with boiling the milk and reducing it or skimming it, followed by adding nuts and sweetener. In India and its sub-continent, Kheer is used in major festivals in every religion. For instance, Hindus prepare it during Diwali, Holi , Karwa Chouth etc.. and muslims prepare it for Rajjab and Ramzan. Parsis Prepare a different kind of rice kheer for Novroze. Kheer is called Payasam in South India, Kheeri in Orissa, Khir in East India , Kheer is North India, Payesh in Bengal and Payasa in Some south eastern parts of India.

There are different kinds of Kheer like
1. Rice Kheer 2. Phirni 3.Gajrella (Carrot Kheer) 4. Lauki Ki Kheer 5. Zafrani Kheer (Saffron Rice Kheer) 6.Gur ki Kheer (jaggery Kheer) 7. Fruit Kheer.




Ingredients:
Cooked Rice - 1 cup
Whole Milk - 2 cups
Sugar - 3 tbsp or to taste
Raisins - 1 tbsp
Chopped Pistachios - 1 tbsp
Chopped Almonds - 1 tbsp
Powdered Cardamom - 1/8 tsp
Saffron - a pinch.



Method:

1. In a heavy bottomed pan, on medium heat, add in the the Milk and the Rice.
2. Grind the Saffron with a little bit of Sugar and add it to the Milk.
3. Meanwhile, soak the Raisins in a little bit of water to help puff them up.
4. Keep stirring the pan and make sure it does not burn at the bottom.
5. Cook till it is of desired thickness.
6. Once it reaches the desired thickness, add in the Sugar. Mix well.
7. Add in the Dry fruits - Raisins (without the water), Pistachios and the Almonds.
8. Turn off the flame and add in the Powdered Cardamom.
9. Serve hot or cold.

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Serves : 4 persons
Shelflife: 1 day
Serving suggestion: Serve hot or chilled as per choice.



Note:

• If you are making the rice just for the Kheer, over cook the rice just a little.
• This is a great recipe if you don’t have a lot of time but alternatively, you can add in raw rice and cook it in the milk and it tastes great. But be very careful and and keep stirring frequently.
• If you like a smoother texture of rice in the kheer, just mash it lightly before adding it to the Milk.
• If you are cooking in Microwave , then cook it at 850W after mixing milk, rice, cardamom, sugar and saffron in microwave proof dish.Then add some heated ghee and nuts and further cook for 10 minutes.
  

Click here to know more about Uttar Pradesh foods and recipes - An Introduction To Uttar Pradesh Foods And Recipes.


Click here to know more about Indian Sweets and Desserts - An Introduction To Indian Sweets .

Aval is a flattened rice puff. Its often used in recipes for either snacks or sweets. The best thing about Aval or poha is it blends nicely with any taste added to it . Thus making it quiet easy for use in kitchen. Aval Payasam is a sweet cuisine in form of payasam from Tamil Nadu. It is tasty and can be prepared with much ease.


Ingredients:
1/4 Cup poha (flattened rice)
1 Litre whole cream milk
5 Almonds, thinly slivered
5 Pistachios thinly slivered
5 Pinches cardamom powder
1 Cup sugar
4 Cashews, broken
15 Raisins.


Method:

1. Wash and drain the poha or Aval. Leave it aside for 10 minutes.
2. Separate poha grains with your finger.
3. Boil the milk in a large vessel.
4. When milk starts boiling, add poha and stir gently.
5. Bring to boil again.
6. Simmer till milk volume reduces to half. Stir occasionally.
7. Now add sugar and cardamom. Stir to dissolve.
8. Add raisins and cashews. Simmer for 2 more minutes.
9. Garnish with chopped almonds and pistachios.
10. Aval Payasam is ready.

Making Time: 30 minutes.
Serves: 5 persons.
ShelfLife: 1 day.


Note: Choose good quality thich cream milk for payasams. This would make them tastier and also reduce the efforts to boiling and reducing the milk.


Click here to know all about Tamil Nadu cuisines- Introduction To Tamil Nadu Cuisines And Recipes.

Click here to know more about of Indian Sweets and Desserts- An Introduction To Indian Sweets And Desserts.

Boondi Kheer is made from Boondi and milk. Its delicious in taste and make one want for more of it. Boondi Kheer is famous in Orissa. The people of orissa prepare then on festive times.


Ingredients:
For Boondi:
Chenna - 2 cup
Cornflour - 1 cup
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Milk - ½ litre,
approxoil to deep fry -2 cups.

For Kheeri:
Milk- 2 litre
Sugar - 1 cup
Cardamom powder - ½ tsp.


Method:

To Make Chenna:

1. Boil 2 liters of cow's milk. Let it cool for about 10 minutes.
2. (The temperature of the milk should be around 80degrees C).
3. Add 2 tbsp of synthetic white vinegar or ¼ tsp citric acid crystals dissolved in ½ cup of hot water.
4. Stir the milk gently and keep covered till it separates into cheese and clear whey.
5. Strain the cheese into a colander, lined with thin muslin.
6. Pour 3-4 cups of cold water over it.
7. Press the cheese with the back of a wooden spoon to drain away all the liquid.

For Boondi:

1. Knead chhenna till smooth.
2. Add corn flour mixed with baking powder.
3. Add milk little at a time mixing well, to get a batter of stiff dropping consistency.
4. Heat oil in a kadai (moderately hot).
5. Hold a perforated ladle above the oil and pour some batter on it.
6. It will drop in tiny drops, into the oil.
7. Fry till they puff and become crisp.
8. Drain on kitchen paper. Use all the batter thus.

For Kheeri:

1. Boil the milk and simmer till it is reduced to 1 litre.
2. Add sugar and stir till dissolved.
3. Add cardamom powder. Add boondis.
4. Simmer gently for 5 minutes.

Making Time: 30 minutes.
Serves: 6 persons.
Shelflife: 1 day.


Note:The boondis in this kheer are made with Chenna (soft cottage cheese) and corn flour.


Click here to know more about Oriya cuisines and Food Recipes- Introduction to Orissa Cuisines And Recipes.

Click here to know more about of Indian Sweets and Desserts- An Introduction To Indian Sweets And Desserts.