Phirni

Phirni or firni is a popular desert made in Northern part of India during festive seasons. It is made with milk, rice, saffron, cardamom, sugar or  jaggery.  My recipe is little different because I prepared the desert with some custard powder! This simple and tasty desert will take less than half hour to prepare!!! 


Ingredients:
Milk - 2 cups
Rice - 4 table spoons
Sugar- according to your taste
Custard powder- 3 table spoons
Raisins, almonds and cashew nuts (optional).


Method of preparation:

1. Boil the above recommended portion of milk in a non stick cooking pot. 
2. Soak rice in water for 30 minutes, grind it with just enough quantity of water ( do not make it into paste)
3. Add the ground rice, sugar, cardamom to the boiling milk. 
4. Once it starts thickening, add custard powder to the cooking dish. ( to avoid lumps, mix custard powder with few spoons of  warm milk before adding it to the milk) 
5. Allow it to cook for atleast 15 minutes, till the milk reduces its quantity. Keep stirring to avoid milk getting burnt at the bottom. 
6. Switch off the stove and transfer the phirni into a container, allow it to cool and refrigerate the desert for alteast 4 hours before serving. 

Ideas:

• If you would like to add some raisins and nuts, coat & roast them with ghee. 
• This dish can be served hot or cold. 
• If handy, garnish with some saffron peals. 

Enjoy the desert!