Kheer / Indian rice pudding

INGREDIENTS                                           Basmati rice 1/2 cup Almonds 6-8 Pistachios 6-8 Raisins 8-10 Milk 1 litre Sugar 3/4 cup Green cardamom powder   1/4 teaspoon Saffron (kesar) 5-6 Silver warq to garnish

vanilla essence                    1 tablespoon

METHOD Wash and soak the rice in one cup of water for fifteen minutes. Drain, remove on an absorbent paper and pat dry using a muslin cloth. Grind it to a coarse powder. Blanch almonds and pistachios in one cup of hot water for five minutes. Drain, peel and cut them into slivers. Soak raisins in one-fourth cup water for ten to fifteen minutes, drain. Heat the milk in a thick-bottomed pan and bring it to a boil. Add the rice powder and sugar and cook on low heat till the rice is half done. Add the green cardamom powder, saffron, nuts and allow to simmer on low heat till the rice is cooked and the mixture is thick Remove from heat, allow to cool a little, stir in the raisins and transfer into small clay bowls. Garnish with silver varq and serve chilled.  Kheer- sweet dish, made by boiling rice or broken wheat with milk and sugar, and flavored with cardamom, raisins, saffron, pistachios or almonds. It is typically served during a meal or also consumed alone as a stand alone savory. Kheer is made in different ways in different part of India.