Rice Kheer Dessert | Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

(Originally posted April 2015 for Fiction Kitchen Podcast Episode 12.)

     In the second half of the Bollywood romance "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge", after Simran's grandmother expresses concern to her son (Simran's father) about her granddaughter's apparent lack of happiness, there is a scene where Simran's mother is carrying a tray with small bowls of kheer around during the engagement celebrations, and asks her husband if he would like one. He accepts and they pass a very brief few words about whether Simran has gotten over the boy she fell in love with in Europe. The father ends up threatening that she had better have gotten over it or she'll regret it.

The recipe below is based on a recipe on Veg Recipes of India and a recipe from food.com.

Rice Kheer Dessert

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2 Cups Milk
1/3 Cup Basmati Rice, rinsed several times & soaked for at least 30 minutes
(I used brown basmati because that's what I had onhand, but white will make a softer dish)
1-2 Tbsp. Sweetened Condensed Milk
Pinch of Saffron
1/4 tsp. Ground Cardamom
Optional inclusions:
1/3 Cup Chopped Nuts
(like cashew, almond, &/or pistachio), soaked while rice is cooking & then chopped
1/4 Cup Raisins (any color of raisin is fine), soaked while rice is cooking

Bring the 2 Cups of milk to a boil & then add in the soaked rice. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 30-40 minutes or until the rice is very soft/falling apart & the mixture is like porridge, thickened & creamy.

Stir in the condensed milk, starting with 1 tablespoon & adding more if you'd like the kheer sweeter, plus the saffron & cardamom. Lastly, add in the optional nuts, almonds, & raisins. Serve warm or chilled. Both ways are yummy!

Listen to the episode! Fiction Kitchen Episode 12: DILWALE DULHANIA LE JAYENGE