Rice Kheer with Cahew-Almond Paste

Rice Kheer made from Jeera Samba Rice cooked in milk & Cashew-Almond paste. Jeera Samba Rice is fried in ghee and cooked. It is then added to boiling milk along with cashew-almond paste flavored with saffron and fried nuts. Jeera Samba rice gives nice aroma and flavor to the kheer. Cashew-Almond paste makes the kheer thick and creamy. Saffron for color and nuts for the crunch.

Ingredients :

• Jeera Samba Rice - 1 cup
• Water - 3 cups
• Milk - 4 cups
• Cashewnuts - 15
• Almonds - 30
• Sugar - 1 1/2 cup
• Ghee - 2 tbsp
• Chopped nuts - 1/4 cup
• Saffron - few strands
• Saffron Color a pinch (Optional)

Method :

• Wash jeera samba rice and soak them in water for 20 mins. Drain & Keep aside. Soak cashew nuts and almonds separately in hot water for 20 mins. 

• Peel the skin of almonds and take them in a mixer jar along with cashew nuts. Add little water and grind it to a fine paste.

• In a pressure cooker heat 2 tbsp ghee and fry drained jeera samba rice for 4-5 mins till aromatic. 

• Add 3 cups of hot water and stir. Close with the lid and pressure cook for 4-5 whistles or till rice is done. Open the lid once pressure subsides.

• In a non-stick thick bottom pan take 4 cups milk and let it come to a boil. Once it starts boiling add cooked rice and mix well.

• Add cashew-almond paste and allow it to come to a boil. 

• Add sugar and mix well. Add saffron strands and saffron color dissolved in water. 

• Mix well and simmer for few more mins till desired thickness is attained (Kheer will also thicken as it cools down). Check for sweetness and adjust. Fry chopped nuts (Cashews, almonds, pistas and raisins) in 2 tbsp ghee. Lastly add fried nuts to the kheer and mix.

• Serve the kheer hot or cold.