Badam Phirni ( Almond Rice Pudding )

Phirni  is a popular North Indian sweet dish  made from milk, ground rice and sugar. Traditionally they are  chilled in earthern ware bowls/ cups called Matkas. Phirnis have a custard-like consistency. They can be flavoured with nuts, rose essence or rose water, cardamom powder. Saffron maybe added to give it a nice golden-yellow hue.

This version of Rice Pudding is ideal when entertaining at home to make a spectacular end to a meal. You have to prepare it the previous day of the party and then leave it to chill in the refrigerator.



Ethnicity : North Indian

Ingredients for Badam Phirni :
15 to 18 badam/almonds
3 cups milk
5-6 tbsp basmati rice
5 to 8 tbsp or more sugar
Saffron - a few strands
Few slivered almonds - for garnish
4-5 green cardamon, peel & powder the seeds

Method :
1.Clean, wash and soak the basmati rice in water for 20 minutes. Drain and grind them to a coarse rawa (semolina) consistency with little water.
2. Soak the almonds in hot water for few minutes and then peel the skin (i.e blanch the almonds). Then grind them to a smooth paste with about half a cup milk.
    Mix together both the rice and almond paste in a bowl and set aside.
3. In a heavy bottomed pan heat the remaining milk over low heat. Slowly stir in the almond-rice mixture while stirring constantly. Else the paste will stick to the bottom of your vessel. Mix and cook on low flame.
4. When the milk turns a bit thick, add the sugar and stir till it dissolves. Now check for sweetness and add more sugar if required. Keep stirring in between and add the ground cardamom and saffron. Cook over low till it attains the right consistency, i.e when it coats the back of a spoon/ attains a custard-like consistency.
5. Let it cool a bit and then chill in the refrigerator.

Note : Instead of soaking the basmati rice and grinding it, you may add 4 tbsp rice flour to the almond paste before adding it into the milk.



Here I am also posting to my friends the proportion of the Basic Phirni. The method is same as above.
1 litre milk
Approx 8 tbsp basmati rice
Approx 3/4 cup sugar, adjust as per sweetness. It is better to add it in smaller quantity and then add more as required.
1 tbsp cream, to be added once the phirni cools slightly
For flavour : 1. May add powdered green cardamon and saffron.
                    2. Instead of the above, you may add 1 tsp rose water or a drop of rose essence.
For granish : Almonds and unsalted pista, both chopped.

Mango Phirni : For the mango season, you may add peeled and chopped mangoes after the phirni cools slightly. For flavouring, cardamon powder goes well with the mangoes. Garnish with chopped almonds.