Rice pudding recipe - traditional creamy rice pudding with khoya and dry fruits

 Introduction :

Rice pudding is an ancient and heartwarming dessert that is a special part of Indian culture. This sweet treat is made in every household at some point, whether it's a festival, guests are visiting, or just a happy occasion. Rice pudding is a sweet dish that, despite its simple texture, is so rich and creamy that every bite offers the perfect combination of milk, rice, and dry fruits.

Not only children love its taste, but adults also enjoy it. The aroma of ghee, the flavor of cardamom, and the texture of khoya combine to make this dish even more flavorful. Dry fruits like charoli nuts, cashews and almonds give it a royal touch.

Here you will learn a traditional rice pudding recipe which is made with common home ingredients but tastes exactly like restaurant style. In this recipe, we will see step by step how you can make the perfect creamy and thick pudding in your kitchen that melts in every bite.

Ingredients:

Main Ingredients:

Rice 1/2 cup (washed and soaked for 30 minutes)

Full Cream Milk 1 liter

Ghee 2 tablespoons

Sugar 1/2 cup or according to your taste

Khoya 100 grams (in crumbled form)

Cardamom powder 1/2 teaspoon

Dry Fruits:

Cashew nuts  10 to 12 (chopped)

Almonds 10 (sliced)

Charoli nuts 1 tablespoon

Raisins optional (for extra sweetness and texture)

Optional (for garnish and flavor):

Saffron strands 5 to 6 (soak in hot milk)

Method :

Step 1: Wash and Soak the Rice

First, wash the rice thoroughly to remove excess starch. Then, soak it in water for 30 minutes. Soaked rice cooks quickly and gives the pudding a soft, creamy texture. Once the rice is soaked, drain the water and set it aside.

Step 2: Roasting the Rice in Ghee

Take a heavy-bottomed pan and heat 2 tablespoons of ghee. Once the ghee is slightly warm, add the soaked rice. Roast over low heat for 3 to 4 minutes, until the rice changes color slightly and the ghee aroma is released. This gives the rice a unique flavor and prevents it from breaking when added to the milk.

Step 3: Boil the Milk and Add the Rice

Now heat 1 liter of milk in a separate pan. Once the milk begins to boil, add  the roasted rice. Reduce the heat to medium and stir constantly with a spoon to prevent the milk from sticking to the bottom.

The most important step in pudding is to cook with patience. Cook the milk over low heat, stirring continuously, for 20 to 25 minutes, until the rice is cooked and the milk thickens slightly.

Step 4: Adding Khoya

Once the rice is soft and creamy, add the khoya. Khoya gives the pudding its creamy and rich texture. Mix it well with a spoon until it is completely dissolved in the milk. Cook for another 5 to 7 minutes. At this point, the aroma of khoya and cardamom begins to waft through the kitchen, making the pudding even more tempting.

Step 5: Add sugar and cardamom powder

Now add sugar. Note that the pudding may become a little thin after adding sugar, but it will thicken again after cooking a little. Add cardamom powder along with the sugar. Cardamom gives the pudding a traditional sweet flavor.

Step 6: Roast and Mix Dry Fruits

Pour some ghee into a small pan. Once the ghee is hot, add cashews, almonds, and charoli nuts. Roast until golden brown. This step enhances both the flavor and crunch of the pudding.

Once the dry fruits are roasted, add them to the pudding and mix lightly. If you like, you can also add some raisins at this point.

Step 7: Final Cooking and Texture Check

Now cook the pudding over low heat for another 10 minutes until all the ingredients are well combined and the milk thickens. When you scoop it up with a spoon and it feels heavy and creamy, the pudding is ready.

If you prefer thicker pudding, cook it longer, or if you prefer a thinner consistency, cook it for a shorter time.

Step 8: Garnish and Serve

After removing the pudding from the heat, let it cool slightly. Transfer it to a serving bowl and garnish it with chopped almonds, cashews, and saffron milk. If desired, you can add a silver leaf to make it look even more royal.

You can serve this pudding hot or cold. If you prefer to serve it cold, refrigerate it for 2 hours.

Tips:

Prevent milk from burning:

Always use a heavy-bottom pan and cook over low heat. It's important to stir occasionally to prevent the milk from sticking to the bottom and burning.

Consistency Monitoring:

Pudding takes time to thicken. If you want a thicker version, cook it longer, but if you want a thinner version, cook it for less time.

Saffron Flavor:

If you prefer, you can soak saffron strands in hot milk and add them to the pudding. This gives the pudding a golden color and a royal flavor.

Timing of adding sugar:

Always add sugar only after the rice and milk are cooked properly. If you add it before that, the rice will not cook properly.

conclusion:

Traditional rice pudding is a sweet dish that's not just a dessert, but an emotion. This simple combination of milk and rice, when cooked over a slow flame with ghee and cardamom, creates a heavenly dessert.

The joy of pudding is enhanced on every festive and joyous occasion. A bowl of hot pudding or cold chilled pudding both have their own charm. With this recipe, you can make creamy, thick, and flavorful rice pudding at home that everyone will love.

If you want to impress your family or guests, this traditional rice pudding is the perfect choice. Make it with a little hard work, patience, and love and see how everyone sings your praises.

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