Phirni

Phirni is an extremely famous North-Indian dessert.  So simple ingredients yet so delicious.  Like so many of you I like it too and love to make it at home.  

There are so many versions of Phirni in Indian Cuisine like Mango Phirni, Orange Phirni, Strawberry Phirni and so on but this one is the most authentic and traditional version. It just needs three main ingredients and you are good to go.  Milk, Rice and Sugar.. a perfect combo that makes so many desserts and sweets and today we are going to use this combo to make this super yummy and creamy Phirni.  

If Phirni is new for you then you would be amazed to see how simple it is to make.  A perfect dessert to end a hearty meal.  So lets start making Phirni.. Happy Cooking :)

Ingredients:

Full Cream Milk  -  1/2 kg
Basmati Rice       -   3 tbsp
Sugar                   -   6 tbsp
Cardamom          -   2 (crushed)
Tutty Fruitty 
or Almonds         -  To garnish

Method:

• Wash rice very well and soak them in water for minimum 1 hour.  Strain and grind them coarsely with 1/4 cup of milk.  Set aside.
• In a deep pan, boil the remaining milk and add the rice milk mixture.  Keep stirring on medium flame to avoid sticking. Keep mixing and scraping the sides till the mixture thickens.  It would take approx 15 minutes.  Add in sugar and crushed cardamom and mix well.  Keep stirring till sugar melts.  Cook for another 4-5 minutes and remove from the flame.
• Garnish with tutty fruity or almonds.
• Serve chilled.

Notes:

1. Do not grind the rice to a fine paste.  Keep it coarse.
2. You can use low fat milk too but for best results use full fat milk.
3. Adjust the sugar level as per your taste.
4. Instead of cardamom, you can add a few strands of saffron too.
5. You can add some dried fruits too.

Coconut Kheer

Hi friends. Kheer is a very famous dessert in indian cuisine.  Almost everyone like it including me :) I like rice kheer but my inclination is a little bit more towards the coconut kheer.  Its really delicious and melt in mouth.  The texture of coconut kheer is a little different from that of rice kheer.  The little little bits of fresh coconut covered in creamy rice and milk mixture is simply awesome. Usually jaggery is used to make this kheer sweet but I didnt like the taste of jaggery in this so I substituted it with sugar. So today I am sharing with you this recipe of Coconut kheer.  I am sure you will also like it.  Do try and enjoy.  Happy cooking :)

 Ingredients:

Grated fresh coconut	1 cup
Basmati rice	2 tbsp (soaked in water for atleast 1 hour)
Sugar	20 tsp
Full cream milk	750 ml
Cardamom (powdered)	3
Chironji / Charoli	1 tbsp
Cashews	7-8 (chopped)
Pistachios	1 tsp (chopped)

Method:

• Take the milk in heavy bottom pan and boil it.  Once boiled, remove from the stove and take half cup of milk from it to add in while blending coconut and rice.
• In a jar, put together coconut, rice and half cup milk and blend it with a hand blender till smooth.
• Put the milk again on the stove and add in coconut rice paste. Mix well. Let it cook on medium flame till the milk reduces and becomes thick.  It will take approx 15 minutes.
• Add in cardamom powder, chopped cashews and charoli.  Mix well.  Cook for another 2 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the stove and add in sugar.  Mix well.
• Put the pan again on the medium flame and cook for another 5 minutes. 
• Remove from the flame and let it cool down.  Shift it to a serving dish and garnish with chopped pistachios.  
• Keep it in the fridge for atleast 1 hour before serving.
• Serve chilled.

Notes:

1. If you do not have time to soak the rice, you can put them in hot water for 10 minutes and then use.
2. You can use jaggery instead of sugar.
3. Any other dried fruits or nuts can be used.