Description
A creamy, aromatic Indian rice pudding made with basmati rice, whole milk, cardamom, and saffron. This traditional dessert is naturally gluten-free, customizable, and tastes even better the next day.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup Basmati Rice (100g)
- 1 liter Whole Milk (4 cups)
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup Granulated White Sugar (100-150g)
- 4–5 Green Cardamom Pods
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cardamom
- A generous pinch Saffron Strands
- 2 tablespoons Almonds, sliced
- 2 tablespoons Pistachios, chopped
- 1 tablespoon Slivered Cashews
- 1 teaspoon Butter
Instructions
- Rinse basmati rice under cold water until clear to remove excess starch. Soak in water for 20-30 minutes, then drain well.
- Heat butter in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Toast almonds, pistachios, and cashews until fragrant and lightly golden (2-3 minutes). Remove and set aside.
- Pour whole milk into a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add crushed cardamom pods. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to low to simmer gently.
- Add drained rice to the simmering milk. Stir well and cook on low heat, stirring occasionally every 5-10 minutes to prevent sticking. Cook until milk reduces by half and rice is tender (20-30 minutes).
- Once rice is tender and milk thickened, add sugar and stir until dissolved. Add soaked saffron (with warm milk) and ground cardamom. Simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Optionally remove cardamom pods. Let cool slightly as it will thicken further. Garnish with toasted nuts and serve warm or chilled.
Notes
For best results, use full-fat whole milk and aged basmati rice. Stir frequently to prevent scorching. The kheer thickens significantly as it cools and can be loosened with warm milk when reheating. It tastes better the next day as flavors meld. Do not freeze as texture may suffer.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 60
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 8
Keywords: Indian dessert, rice pudding, kheer, cardamom rice pudding, gluten-free dessert, traditional Indian sweets, saffron pudding