Kesar Badam Pista Kheer

   

I had a special, no, in fact a very special guest staying with us last three days. We just bid him farewell yesterday. And I wanted to make him all his favourites while he was around. So, I started with laddus and modaks and followed by karanjis. Then I thought, why not feed him some of my specials. And so, I made puran polis, cupcakes, swiss tarts and kheer, loaded with kesar, badam, pista and elaichi. This post is about kheer- how humble chawal and milk can become a real royal treat. I am sure our very special guest loved the saffron and dry fruit laden treat, served to him before anyone could lay their hands on it. I love it chilled, topped with generous helpings of almonds and pistachios. 

Ingredients:

½ cup uncooked rice, soaked in water for 3-4 hours

1 liter full cream milk

1 cup full cream milk

½ can condensed milk (I used milkmaid)

½ cup sugar

4-5 tbsp- almonds, pistachio powder mixed with elaichi powder (cardamom powder)

and 8-10 strands of saffron.

¼ cup thinly chopped almonds and pistachio

10-12 strands of kesar (saffron), soaked in water

 

 Method: 

1.    While the rice is soaking, put milk to boil, add sugar and let it simmer on a low flame till it thickens a bit. 

2.   Massage the soaked rice between your palms till the rice breaks into small pieces, Drain excess water. Soak the broken rice in the 1 cup milk. Keep aside.

3.   Add condensed milk in the simmering milk and mix well.

4.   Now, add the powdered almond-pistachio-cardamom-saffron mix and give the milk a good stir.

5.   Add the soaked rice to the milk. Stir frequently and make sure the rice mix doesn’t stick to the bottom.

6.   Once it is thick enough (not as thick as pudding), remove from heat. Keep aside.

7.   The mix will thicken on its own in 2-2.5 hours. Then add most of the chopped dry fruits and add  half the soaked saffron.

8.   Refrigerate to chill.

9.   Serve in individual bowls and add remaining dry fruits on the top of each bowl. Dress them up with little saffron on the top. 

     

A very special treat for a super special guest. Ganpati Bappa Moriya !