Kheerni

Kheerni

Kheerni

Veg

Sindhi-style rabdi — full-fat milk reduced on low heat over hours with continuous stirring, or by the more efficient method of allowing a skin to form repeatedly and folding it into the milk until the volume reduces by two-thirds to a thick, grainy, clotted-cream consistency. Sweetened with sugar and fragrant with cardamom, rose water, and saffron; served cold with lolo or eaten alone in small bowls at the end of a Sindhi festival meal. The kheerni is the Sindhi name for what North India calls rabdi; the Sindhi version is sometimes thicker, with a coarser grain texture from longer reduction. A labour-intensive preparation that signals the importance of a festive occasion.

Cuisines

Kutchi Rajasthani Awadhi Sindhi Delhi

Best for

Dessert Snacks

Recipe

Prep: 10 min Cook: 40 min Total: 50 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

basmati rice 1/4 cup Basmati rice
Milk 4 cups Milk , full-fat
sugar 1/4 cup Sugar
cardamom 1/4 teaspoon Cardamom , powder
Almond 1 tablespoon Almond , chopped
Cashew 1 tablespoon Cashew , chopped
Raisin 1 tablespoon Raisin
Pistachio 1 tablespoon Pistachio , chopped
Saffron — Saffron , a pinch of strands
rose water — Rose water , optional

Instructions

  1. 1 Wash and soak the basmati rice in water for 30 minutes, then drain.
  2. 2 In a heavy-bottomed pan, bring the milk to a boil.
  3. 3 Add the soaked rice to the boiling milk and reduce the heat to low.
  4. 4 Cook the rice in the milk, stirring continuously to prevent sticking, until the rice is soft and the milk has thickened, about 25-30 minutes.
  5. 5 Add sugar and cardamom powder to the mixture, stirring well to combine.
  6. 6 Continue to cook for another 5-10 minutes until the sugar is fully dissolved and the kheerni reaches the desired consistency.
  7. 7 In a small pan, lightly toast the almonds, cashews, and raisins until golden.
  8. 8 Add the toasted nuts and raisins to the kheerni, stirring gently.
  9. 9 Add saffron strands and a few drops of rose water, if using, and mix well.
  10. 10 Remove from heat and let it cool slightly before serving.
  11. 11 Garnish with chopped pistachios before serving.

Tips

For a richer flavor, use a mix of whole and evaporated milk. Adjust sugar according to taste.