Rice Kheer

Rice Kheer is the first solid food fed to a child in India.Around 6 months of age is when a child would start eating solids.There would be a rite-of-passage , Annaprashan or Ushtavan. The rice kheer was the first solid a baby was intriduced to and usually remains a favourite right into adulthood even though their palates have been corrupted by all kinds of junk foods . The home made rice kheer is a surefire way to lift up anyones spirit.

Its easy to make and can be made with cooked rice or from scratch. I prefer to let you in on the shortcut and the shorter cut.

Short: 1 cup cooked rice, 1 litre milk, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 cardamoms crushed, raisins, chopped nuts.Boil the milk , add sugar. As the sugar dissolves, add the cardamoms, raisins and rice. Cook on a slow flame till the milk reduces to half. Keep scraping off the creamy deposits on the edges of the pan and put it back into the milk.Garnish with nuts and serve hot or cold.

Shorter: 1 cup cooked rice, 1 litre milk, 1/4 cup sugar,1 cup sweetened evaporated / condensed milk, 2 cardamoms crushed, raisins, chopped nuts.Boil the milk , add sugar. As the sugar dissolves, add the cardamoms, raisins and rice. Cook on a slow flame for 5 minutes. Add the evaporated milk bring to a boil. Cook further for 5 mins .Keep scraping off the creamy deposits on the edges of the pan and put it back into the milk.Garnish with nuts and serve hot or cold.