Phirni is a traditional dessert made with ground rice, sugar, milk and cardamoms. Make this creamy and delicious pudding for any occasion to serve as a after meal dessert.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 5 minutes
  • Cook time: 30 minutes
  • Total time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 3
  • Category: Dessert / Sweet
  • Cuisine: Indian, Mughlai

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup rice ((any rice))
  • 4 cups full fat milk ((divided, 3½ + ½))
  • 6 to 8 tablespoons sugar ((reduce for low sweet))
  • 1 pinch saffron ((optional, substitute with kewra water))
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 10 almonds ((fine chopped))
  • 10 pistachios ((fine chopped))

Method

  1. Add rice to a colander and rinse it under running water. Drain the water completely by shaking off the excess water.
  2. Spread the rice in the same colander and air dry them. You can also spread the rice on a cloth and leave until the milk is ready.
  3. Meanwhile pour 3½ milk to a large pot and begin to heat stirring often so a layer of cream does not form on top.
  4. Once the milk becomes hot, add the dried rice to a grinder and make a slightly coarse powder. We do not want fine flour here. If your rice is still moist it's just fine.
  5. Pour ½ cup milk to the ground rice and mix well. This prevents any lumps of rice in the milk.

How to Make Phirni

  1. Pour this to the hot milk and mix well. Keep stirring and cook on a medium heat until the rice is fully cooked. Phirni also turns slightly thick at this stage.
  2. Crush the saffron in your palm with your finger and add it. Also add the sugar and continue to cook stirring often.
  3. Once the phirni has become thick, yet of pouring consistency, add cardamom powder and mix well. Dip the back of the spoon in the phirni and check the consistency. It should coat the back of the spoon.
  4. Phirni turns thick upon cooling. Take down the stove and keep stirring every few minutes until it cools down. This step prevents a layer forming on top of the phirni.
  5. Once it cools down, transfer to serving cups or clay bowls. Serve phirni chilled or at room temperature.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.