SHAHI PHIRNI WITH PISTACHIOS AND FRUIT TOPPINGS

                    It seems like Yesterday when I came across a Group of Bloggers on Google + sharing their delicious food based on a particular theme on every Monday like "healthy ingredients, family and comfort food recipes, real, local and sustainable food" and all the members have to cook the recipe according to theme ingredient and reveal it on the said date. By doing this one gets to learn new techniques and explore different cuisines. What attracted me is the passion of these bloggers to come up with new theme and cook accordingly despite their busy schedules.

                    One Simple mail to Jolly and I am part of this Group and donot know how time flies and we have came to celebrate our 25^th Foodie Monday BlogHop today. During this journey I came across some wonderful friends like Krithika, Rupal, Nisa,Sujata,Waagmi, Preethi and Jolly who have become part of my life. Thank you everyone of Foodie Monday BlogHop for your wonderful Contributions and making me realize my passion for experimenting with food and enjoying it on every Monday.

 

So to celebrate our 25th Foodie Monday Blog Hop theme of Sweets , I decided to make SHAHI PHIRNI  WITH PISTACHIOS AND FRUIT TOPPINGS.Who can resist chilled creamy Phirni, an absolute delight…and my all-time fav Indian Dessert! But making it the traditional way requires much of your time and attention…with constant supervision.

          Phirni is a traditional rice pudding that is prepared with full cream milk, paste of soaked raw rice, sugar and cardamom. The cooked creamy rice mixture is set in earthen clay pots or plates, richly garnished with edible silver leaf and garnished with nuts like pistachios and almonds. Phirni has its origins in the Middle East and has made its way to the Indian sub continent through the Mughals. You will find this easy sweet dessert prepared in the homes of Hindus and Muslims to celebrate festivals like Eid, Holi and Diwali.

Course:Dessert

Cuisine:Indian

Yield:6 servings

Cooking Time:1 hour, 45 minutes 

Ingredients

• 1 liter full cream milk
• 1/4 cup rice
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup pistachios chopped
• 1 teaspoon cardamom powder
• ½ cup chopped fruits of your choice( optional)

Let's Learn How to make this delicious Phirni:

• Wash and soak rice in little water for about an hour. 
• Drain water and pulse in a grinder till you get a grainy consistency.The grains should feel gritty between your fingers and should be slightly bigger than semolina.
• Heat milk in a heavy bottom pan and bring the milk to a gentle simmer, add the rice while whisking continuously. This will help avoid lumps. Bring this to a boil while whisking, and then lower the flame to a simmer. Keep stirring the mixture every couple of minutes. After about 20 minutes the mixture will start to thicken. 
• Simmer for another 20 -25 minutes till it thickens considerably and the rice is completely cooked. Add sugar,cardamom powder and mix till it dissolves. 
• Turn off the heat and allow it to cool completely. Refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours. 
• serve the Phirni with chopped pistachios along with seasonal fruits of your choice.