VegetarianOrigin HyderabadPrep 40 minutes, plus soaking timeCook 35 minutes
A thick, fragrant coconut and rice pudding delicately perfumed with cardamom and finished with toasted nuts and dried fruit. It offers a sweet, rich, and nutty flavour with a comforting porridge-like texture.
Finishing spice
1.4 gStirred into the pudding at the end of simmering (step 3)
Cover 100 g rice in a bowl of water, leave to soak for 1 hour, and drain thoroughly.
Place the soaked rice and 700 g fresh coconut into a blender or food processor, adding just enough water to blend into a thick, uniform paste.
Transfer the paste into a wide, heavy-bottomed pan over low heat and cook for 10 minutes. Pour in 250 ml water, stir in 250 g granulated sugar, and simmer gently for about 20 minutes until the kheer reaches a porridge-like consistency.
Stir in the finishing spice until evenly incorporated, then spoon the mixture into a serving bowl.
Warm 13.2 g ghee in a skillet over low heat. Add the nuts and fry for about 3 minutes until lightly golden, then remove with a slotted spoon. Toss the raisins into the hot ghee for 1 to 2 minutes until plump, scatter the fried nuts and raisins across the pudding, and allow to cool fully before serving chilled.
Use 50% to 60% of the weight, soaked in equal parts warm water for 15 minutes before grinding. Works well for chutneys, though texture is slightly finer and sweeter.
Use 1.2 times the weight in curries. Adds creamy richness and authentic flavour, but makes gravies smoother and eliminates the grated, chewy mouthfeel.
Use 120% of the weight; melt gently over low heat to avoid burning the milk solids, which will yield a softer, creamier richness rather than a nutty aroma.