Pumpkin Kheer

Kheer is a word in Hindi which is derived from Sanskrit words Ksheer (which means milk). Kheer is dessert that is made in milk. Kheer can be made with rice, vermiceli, sago or lentils. I am sharing my recipe of Pumpkin Kheer with you.

This is my traditional family recipe. My grandma and mom used to make it very well. As a child, this one was one of my favourite version of kheer (Rice & Pumpkin Kheer). I was a real sweet tooth child….and very chubby.

So when I had a harvest of 4 huge pumpkins in my backyard, the first thing that came to my mind was to try this out. I tried this recipe for the first time and having it after 10 or so years made me nostalgic.

Please bear in mind that this recipe can be altered to Rice & Pumpkin kheer or just let it stay as Pumpkin kheer. Since I had to use those heaps of pumpkins, I just used the pumpkin but by all means we can try the same recipe for mix of rice and Pumpkin.

The quantity of sweetness can be varied by the amount of sugar according to our taste. These days I prefer less sweetend foods.

Ingredients:

¼ pumpkin peeled, deseeded and grated
1 Litre milk
1/2 can skim condensed milk (you may vary the quantity to be 1 can or according to taste)
Jaggery according to taste (alternatively use sugar)
1 Tablespoon Ghee
1/4th Teaspoon Cardamom powder
Dry fruits (grated cashews, raisins, pistachio etc.) for garnishing

Recipe:

1. Heat ghee in a deep cooking pot and roast grated pumpkin in it a bit for about 3-4 mins. Please make sure that pumpkin should not turn crisp instead it should be roasted just enough to absorb ghee.
2. Add skim condensed milk and jaggery (or sugar) to it and cover it. Let it cook till the mixture thickens.
3. Add milk to above and mix it. Cover the pot and let it boil.
4. When Kheer has thickened it is ready. Add cardamom powder to it.
5. Add dry fruits for garnishing.
6. You can chuck it in the refrigerator and cool for a while or have it hot as preferred.

Enjoy!!!

Tip: You can add Rice and pumpkin in the ratio of 1:2 as well in this recipe.