Pakistani sweet dish: Kheer

When people claim that Erasmus can change lives, they are right. I was a person who simply hated cooking, perhaps I still do but sometimes I enjoy it now. Or maybe I have accepted the fact that I have to do it as I am not in one of the dormitories in Turkey anymore where I was served breakfast and dinner in the cafeteria. I am living in an apartment and if I want to eat, I need to get up and cook food.

So I decided to make this Pakistani sweet dish “Kheer” with rice and milk as key ingredients, even though my earlier experiences with rice had been quite pathetic. You can check the photo gallery for a proof as I don’t dare to insert them here in the middle of text.

But this one turned out to be quite good; therefore I am sharing the recipe.

Ingredients:

• White Rice (half glass);
• Milk (1 glass);
• Sugar (as per taste);
• Cardamom (optional);
• Dry fruits such as dried grapes, crushed almonds, dates etc (optional);

Procedure:

First wash the rice and soak it in water for about an hour so it can be boiled quickly and easily. After one hour, add the rice into almost 1 glass of boiling water.

In another pan, add 1 glass of milk and bring it to boil. Once your rice is boiled, add it into this boiling milk and reduce the heat slightly above than minimum and note the time (it usually takes 25-30 minutes). Once it starts getting thick, add the sugar (I used 4 table spoons for half glass of rice), and dry fruits. (Put aside some of the dry fruits for garnishing). Cover your pan leaving a small opening. Do not forget to stir after every few minutes so it doesn’t stick to the pan. Check the time now, if around 25 minutes have passed, you will notice that it’s pretty thick now and has a texture similar to pudding. You can now turn off the pilot. Dish it out in a plate, garnish it with the dry fruits, and put in the fridge for 15-30 minutes.

Take it out and enjoy it.

Note: This dessert is also found in other parts of the world with a slight difference in procedure or ingredients and/or with different name.

Photo gallery