Rice kheer is one of the easiest traditional Indian desserts you can make! Rich, creamy pudding-like texture and flavored with cardamom and saffron. A dangerously addictive treat you’ll want to make it again an again!
This kheer recipe is very easy to make and required very few ingredients. All of the ingredients will be available in your pantry very easily. You can’t go wrong with this recipe, unlike other Indian sweets which call for one string sugar syrup.
What is Rice Kheer?
Kheer is an Indian rice pudding where basmati rice is cooked in milk and sugar. It is flavored with cardamom, saffron and garnished with nuts. In Hindi, it is called chawal ki kheer. Every region has its own version of making it. Today’s kheer recipe is North Indian style.
There is another little similar dessert called phirni. The ingredients are same, but in phirni a coarse rice paste is cooked in milk vs rice grains.
Check out other kheer recipes
Lauki kheer // Carrot kheer // Makhane ki kheer // Sabudana kheer // sweet potato kheer // Pumpkin kheer
Three methods of making rice kheer:
- Traditional method: Here rice is cooked in milk. So every grain will absorb the milk and becomes rich and fluffy. It gives the best creamy texture to the kheer. So I personally prefer this method.
- Instant version: Kheer made with condensed milk and cooked rice. It gets ready in less time. If I am short on time or have leftover cooked rice than I go for this method.
- Instant pot kheer: made in the electric pressure cooker.
How to make Rice kheer recipe?
1) Wash the rice under running cold water till water runs clear. Soak them in enough water for 20-30 minutes.
2) After soaking time, discard the water.
3) Take milk in a heavy bottom pan. Turn the heat on medium.
4) Let the milk come to a boil.
5) Once it starts boiling, add rice.
6) Stir well and let it simmer on low-medium heat 20-25 minutes. Or till the rice is tender and cooked. Do stir every five minutes and make sure that rice or milk is not sticking to the pan.
7) Check by pinching the rice grain, it will mash very easily.
8) When you take a spoonful of it and pour it back, rice and milk stay separate.
9) Now add sugar.
10) and cardamom powder. Stir it well.
11) Also, add saffron strands.
12) and chopped cashews, almonds, and raisins.
13) Mix well. It becomes thin as the sugar starts to melt. let it simmer for 6-7 minutes. It should be thick now.
14) How to check the right consistency of kheer: take ladleful of kheer and pour it back. rice and milk should fall together in the same flow. They should not be separated like earlier. Once you get this consistency then turn off the stove.
For the variation, you can try adding a teaspoon of rose water or kewra water once it is ready. It will give a really good flavor.
You can serve it warm. Or let it cool down completely and then chill in the fridge. many preferred chilled kheer. Keep in mind that it will get thick as it cools down. So if planning to serve this chilled then reduce the simmering time after adding sugar and keep little on the thinner side.
Serving suggestion: Serve it as a dessert along with your meal or after the meal. It can be served warm with pooris.
More traditional Indian sweets recipes
Gajar ka halwa // Kaju katli // Gulab jamun // Rasgulla // Rabri
Rice kheer recipe (Indian rice pudding) Chawal ki kheer
Ingredients
For rice kheer recipe:
- ¼ cup Long grain rice or Basmati rice
- 2 ½ cups Milk
- ¼ cup Sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Green cardamom seeds powder
- few strands Saffron
- ½ tablespoon Almonds chopped
- ½ tablespoon Cashew nuts chopped
- ½ tablespoon Raisins
Instructions
Preparation:
- Wash the rice under running cold water till water runs clear.
- Soak them in enough water for 20-30 minutes.
- While rice is soaking, chop the nuts and keep it aside.
- After soaking time, discard the water.
Making rice kheer recipe:
- Take milk in a heavy bottom pan. Turn the heat on medium.
- Let the milk come to a boil.
- Once it starts boiling, add rice.
- Stir well and let it simmer on low-medium heat 20-25 minutes. Or till the rice is tender and cooked. Do stir every five minutes and make sure that rice or milk is not sticking to the pan.
- Check by pinching the rice grain, it will mash very easily. When you take a spoonful of it and pour it back, rice and milk stay separate.
- Now add sugar and cardamom powder. Stir it well.
- Also add saffron strands and chopped cashews, almonds and raisins.
- Mix well. let it simmer for 6-7 minutes. It should be thick now.
- How to check right consistency: take ladleful of kheer and pour it back. rice and milk should fall together in the same flow. They should not be separated like earlier.
- Once you get this consistency then turn off the stove.
Just tried this because I had a craving for rice. Did not use nuts or raisins. Did not have cadmium or saffron and it still came out amazing! Just used my favorite sweet fruity tea to add taste. 🙂
Glad that recipe was helpful
Very easy steps and helpful for beginners like me,, thanks for the recipe..
Glad that you find it helpful.
I tried this Recipe. Awesome .
I like this Kheer very much.
Thanks for sharing the recipe...
Glad to know that you liked the kheer.
Thank you for your review
wow its very easy to make and its very tasty and i loved it thanks for the recipe
Glad to know you liked the kheer
I tried....and it cameout awesome...thanks for the recipe.
Glad to hear that. Thanks for the feedback.