The Last Minute Pressure Cooker Rice Kheer !

It is literally raining mithai everywhere, more specifically on Facebook! Nothing less than a million ideas there, no exaggeration.  And I swear, I have put on (more) weight just by looking at them! Like they say, technology isn't really good enough until you can download food! But till that day arrives, we will have to reach out for the real stuff, churn out deliciousness in our own kitchens. Thanks to my super-talented fellow bloggers and foodie friends who never fail to inspire!

Made some Chocolate Fudge yesterday as the teenage son wanted to make something to take to school today. He wanted to make it himself as he is all of 13 now! But of course the enthusiasm was limited to chopping the toasted nuts, munching on them and eating pieces of the weighed out chocolate when I wasn't looking. Oh yes, he also stirred the fudge and later helped wrap them in cling-film.  So much for 'making it'! My 8 year old daughter was content with taking some chips and noodles as instructed by her teacher(bless her) . But of course there had to be endless arguments for the fudge - and boy, can they do a good job of it!  Just as well, Children's Day and class parties don't happen every day!

And then I had just enough time and energy to make some quick and easy, creamy rice kheer in a pressure cooker. With minimal effort & active time you could make this pudding using pantry staples. No slaving over the stove or stirring for hours! Just the kind of traditional dessert you would want to make at the last minute for a festival or for unexpected guests.  

How much ever you may believe in the slow-cooked version, trust me, you want this recipe in your repertoire!

Recipe from here, thank you for the lovely recipe Swapna! 

Rice Kheer in a pressure cooker

(serves 10-12)

Ingredients : 

Basmati  or Sona Masuri Rice  - 3/4 cup (read note)

Sugar - 1.5 - 1.75 cups (read note)

Milk - 1.5 liters / 7.5 cups (3.5% fat) (plus a cup or two extra to adjust consistency if needed)

Cashewnuts - 100 grams

Ghee - 1 teaspoon

Saffron - a very generous pinch

Cardamom powder - 1 teaspoon

Method : 

1. Wash the rice and drain well. Fry the cashew nuts in ghee until light golden. Break them into pieces. Set aside. 

2. Boil the milk in a 5 liter pressure cooker. Soak the saffron in about 2 tablespoons of this milk to use later. Cool the milk completely before proceeding with the rest of the recipe. This is important. If the milk is very hot, the cooker will release pressure very quickly and the rice may remain uncooked.

3. Add the washed rice and the sugar to the milk. Stir to dissolve the sugar. 

4. Close the lid, once steam starts appearing, put the weight on. Reduce the heat to the lowest. 

5 . Cook for 1/2 hour. Turn off the heat. Let the pressure drop fully before opening the lid.

6.  The rice would have been cooked and the milk will be very creamy. Add the saffron and stir. Taste and add sugar if needed. Cook on low heat for 5 - 10 minutes more. 

7.  Cool to room temperature, add the cardamom powder and the cashewnuts. The kheer will turn thicker as it cools, add the reserved milk as needed to adjust the consistency. 

Serve at room temperature or chilled. 

Please note : 

1.  Milk :Use full cream milk for best results. Make sure you have some extra full cream milk to adjust the consistency. 

2.  Sugar : Start with 1.5 cups. Increasing the sweetness is easier than pouring in more milk to reduce it. You may end up with a less creamy kheer if you add a lot of milk later. 

3. Rice - I love using Basmati as is very aromatic, also cooks faster. Sona Masuri will take a little longer to cook. Use just one variety, do not mix. 

3.  The cooking time may vary slightly depending on your pressure cooker. 


4. After the pressure drops, if you find that the rice is slightly under cooked, simply put on low heat and cook for a few more minutes. Especially with  Basmati rice, pressure cooking again will make the rice turn mushy and the kheer will not have the same consistency.

5.  You could add the nuts along with the milk and rice, but I like the crunch it gives, so I add it later.

6. I made this kheer in a 10 liter pressure cooker for double the above quantity at my parent's place. The cooker chose to whistle and alarm me, cooking the kheer faster. It turned out just fine. 

7. All ingredients measured using standard measuring cups and spoons. 

Happy Diwali, stay safe!