Chawal ki Kheer (Rice Pudding)

Chawal ki Kheer is a traditional Punjabi dish and is always made during Lohri celebrations. It is typically served cold, garnished with a lot of nuts and raisins.

Ingredients:-

• ½ cup rice (short grain is better)
• 1 litre full cream milk
• ¾ cup sugar
• ½ cup nuts and raisins (cashewnuts, pistachios, almonds)
• 1 tbsp ghee or butter

Preparation Method:

1. Soak the rice in warm water for 10 minutes.
2. Cook the rice in 1 cup milk and 1 cup water. (If using a pressure-cooker, pressure cook the rice for 5 minutes with ¼ cup milk and ¾ cup water in case of basmati rice, and with ½ cup milk and 1½ cup water for any other rice)
3. Warm the remaining milk and add to the rice.
4. Bring the milk to a gentle boil and leave it simmering over very low heat. Stir occasionally.
5. Let it simmer until it becomes thick, and the quantity reduces to a little more than half of the original.
6. Add the sugar and mix well. Let it simmer for another 10 minutes.
7. Heat the ghee and fry the nuts and raisins on low heat until they brown slightly. Pour it over the kheer.
8. Chill the kheer and serve cold.
9. If the kheer is too thick after refrigerating, mix it with a little cold milk just before serving.

Note: Since you will be serving the kheer cold, it needs to be a little sweeter than needed while cooking, since the sweetness reduced when it is served cold.

Variation: Pal payasam

When making pal payasam, all the steps are identical. The difference is that the rice used is red rice and Pal payasam is thinner in consistency. Also, it is served hot, usually accompanied by a plantain.