Brown Rice Phirni

Phirni is a North-Indian rose, cardamom, and saffron-scented rice pudding, made with ground rice. Though the ingredients used are quite similar to those in kheer or payasam, the texture and the taste is quite different.

A traditional phirni is velvety. It is generally made with white basmati rice and sugar and the color is usually a pristine white with a delicate hue from the saffron.

Since I am making it healthy, I am using brown rice and jaggery, so it’s caramel in color.

 

60 grams of brown rice

400 ml milk

6 to 7 tablespoons grated or powdered jaggery (add per taste)

5 green cardamom pods, seeds powdered

A pinch of saffron, soaked in a tablespoon of warm milk

1 teaspoon rosewater (optional)

Caramelized/ honey roasted/ plain nuts (to garnish)

Dried rose petals (to garnish)

Method:

1. Rinse the rice and soak it in a litre of water for about 5 hours.
2. Then drain the water from the rice and grind the rice into a coarse paste in a blender or food processor, add water if needed. Keep aside.
3. Heat the milk in a saucepan.
4. When it starts boiling, reduce the heat to low and add the ground rice.
5. Cook with constant stirring till the mixture thickens and the rice is cooked.
6. Add jaggery and mix well till it dissolves.
7. Add cardamom and saffron (and rosewater, if using). Mix well.
8. Pour the phirni into earthenware bowls or other serving bowls.
9. Garnish with nuts and rose petals and refrigerate it for at least a couple of hours.
10. Serve cold.

Do give this exotic, beautiful, and healthy dessert a try, don’t forget to tag #slimpossiblediet