NEW YEAR SPECIAL: FESTIVE SWEET DELICACIES TO RELISH…

CELEBRITY MASTER CHEF DR KAVIRAJ KHIALANI

Festive Season is on the move and we are all so excited to make the most of them as they come along to cherish memories for long term and be able to look back to all the pleasant moments spent with friends and family during these occasions. Food and festivity go hand in hand and making something easy, not too time consuming and with few ingredients on hand makes the experience and mood all the more enchanting to cook up some sweet treats!

Diwali and New Year celebrations have already commenced & while some of us are comfortable with the classics, few of us are good to go with contemporary and a notable number is also open to trying new ideas, innovations and concoctions when it comes to making sweets and farsan, chocolates and delicacies all the way making the moments stay with us forever and creating a culinary delight worth all the efforts.

Some of my favorite concepts with sweets during festivities revolves around kheer, burfi, pedha, varieties of them and with a touch of newness and culmination of ideas and creative touch of course being a chef it is very important to be different and be able to present something out of the box as well to our guests, clients, foodies and fans. While it is also equally important to watch weights, sugar intakes, high calorie foods which usually come our way during these times working on a balance and a little wise inputs make it easy.

Wishing all our readers a very Happy & Prosperous Diwali 2024

Here are a few of my recipes with Kheer as a variety to prepare this Diwali Season for loved ones!

CHAWAL KI NUTKHUT KHEER

Ingredients

Milk- 750 ml

Basmati rice- 1cup

Green cardamom- ¼ tsp powdered

Sugar- as per taste

Ghee-1 tsp

Raisins- 2 tsp chopped

Almonds- 2 tsp chopped

Mava- 2-3 tsp grated optional

Rose water- 2 tsp

Condensed milk- 2-3 tbsp.

Saffron- 4-5 strands

Method

Prepare and set up the ingredients for the nutty rice kheer recipe.
Start with boiling of the milk, add green cardamom powder and simmer it for 4-5 mins.
Add the rice which is cooked/ boiled and mix it well into the milk mixture.
Sometimes we also add a little mava into this kheer recipe to add more richness, add in little ghee as well into your kheer for the festive flavor.
As an option we can also add a little condensed milk into the kheer recipe for an added creamy texture and taste as well.
6 Simmer the kheer for around 15- 20 mins, add in the nuts and mix well. Allow to reduce to the correct texture as desired, add in rose water.
Dish out the kheer into serving bowls, garnish with assorted dry fruits as per choice and availability and allow to chill for 30- 45 mins. This can be served warm as well.

KHAJOOR AUR AKHROAT WALI KHEER

Ingredients

Milk- 750 ml

Sugar- as per taste

Jaggery- can be used as an option

Brown rice- 1 cup, cooked and crushed

Cinnamon powder-1/4 tsp

Ghee- 1-2 tsp

Walnuts-2-3 tsp chopped

Raisins- 2-3 tsp chopped

Dates- 6- 8 no, chopped or puree

Dark chocolate- ¼ cup grated

Assorted fresh fruits- 1 cup, kiwi, strawberry, cherries etc

Crushed digestive biscuits- ½ cup

Method

Prepare all the ingredients for the recipe as listed.
Start with boiling the milk and reducing it a little.
Add in the crushed cooked brown rice, little sugar if desired or use jaggery/ dates as well to balance.
Add in a little pure ghee and simmer the kheer for around 6-8 mins.
Check the kheer for texture and consistency as it starts getting thick and coating types.
Dish out the kheer into serving bowls and garnish with assorted nuts like walnuts, raisins, almonds etc and serve the delicious kheer warm or chilled.

MAKHANE AUR BADAM KI KHEER

Ingredients

Milk- 750 ml

Sugar- as per taste

Green cardamom powder-1/4 tsp

Condensed milk-1/4 cup

Makhanas/ lotus seeds- 1 cup lightly toasted

Rose water-1-2 tsp

Almond paste- 2-3 tsp

Sliced almonds- 1-2 tsp

Apricots / dates- as desired can be added

Dried rose petals- 2-3 tsp for garnish

Method

Prepare all the ingredients required for the recipe.
Work on the milk to start with, boil, simmer and reduce a little.
Add in the green cardamom, sweetener as per taste and mix.
Now add in the makhanas and almond paste and simmer for 4-6 mins.
Add condensed milk for a creamier/richer taste and texture.
Add in few nuts and simmer the kheer for 3-4 mins more.
Dish out the makhana badam kheer into small serving cups/ dessert bowls and garnish with nuts/ rose petals and serve warm or chilled.

PHALDAARI KHEER

Ingredients

Milk- 750 ml

Sugar- as per taste

Green cardamom powder-1/4 tsp

Mava- ¼ cup grated

Condensed milk-1/4 cup

Rice paste- 2-3 tbsp.

Saffron- 8-10 strands

Almonds-1-2 tsp sliced

Cashews- 1-2 tsp sliced

Raisins- 1-2 tsp sliced

Cherries- 2-3 tsp sliced

Kiwi / strawberries- ¼ cup cut

Pineapple/ apple/ pear- ½ cup cut

Chocolate chips- 1-2 tsp garnish

Method

Prepare all the ingredients for the kheer recipe and keep them ready.
Start by boiling the milk and reducing a little. Add in sugar to taste.
Now add in the rice paste, green cardamom powder and allow to simmer and cook, keep stirring until the mixture gets nice and thick.
Add in the assorted nuts, simmer for 15-20 mins or until the kheer gets a nice creamy texture and is cooked up well.
It is now time to turn off the flame and cool down the kheer a little and then add in chocolate chips/ white chocolate or dark chocolate can be used.
This dessert is good to layer into a pudding dish/ glass bowls/ dessert glasses through which the fruits will be an added visual delight as well.
Layer the kheer with fresh fruits, dry fruits as per choice and allow to chill for 1-2 hours and serve.

RABDI AUR KHEER KA MILAN

Ingredients

Milk- 750 ml

Seviyan- 1 cup semi- roasted

Ghee- 2-3 tsp

Green cardamom powder-1/4 tsp

Mava- ¼ cup grated

Sugar to taste

Condensed milk- optional

Raisins- 2-3 tsp chopped

Cashews- 2-3 tsp chopped

Rose water-1-2 tsp

Dates- 3-4 chopped

Rabdi- 1 cup prepared and chilled

Chocolate chips- ¼ cup

Assorted nuts- 2-3 tbsp. For garnish

Optional ingredients to add in for more color/flavor:

Jalebi/ sweet boondi/ motichoor ladoo/ mava pedha

Method

Prepare all the ingredients and keep ready to start with the kheer recipe.
Start with the milk and boil, add in the green cardamom powder, sugar to taste and mix well.
Saute the seviyan in a little ghee to a nice light brown and nutty color and add it into the milk and allow to simmer and cook for 8-10 mins.
Add in some of the nuts and continue cooking for 4-6 mins, stirring occasionally.
Check for the texture and sweetness and adjust it accordingly. The sweet will now be allowed to cool slightly.
I usually prefer to layer this dessert with a combination of ingredients starting with the seviyan kheer at the base, a few fresh fruits, layer of indian mithai options as listed above, the chilled rabdi and some dry fruits on top.
Prepare the sweet in cups/ bowls/ glasses and allow to chill for 1-2 hours and serve the delicious festive sweet.

SHUBH DIPAVALI KI KHEER

Ingredients

Milk- 750 ml

Sugar- as per taste

Green cardamom powder- ¼ tsp

Lauki / bottle gourd- 250 gms, peeled, grated

Ghee- 2-3 tsp

Mava- 100 gms, grated

Pistachios- 2-3 tsp chopped

Raisins-2-3 tsp chopped

Condensed milk- ¼ cup

Sooji/ rava- ½ cup

Coconut milk- ½ cup thick

Method

Prepare all the ingredients for this amazing kheer recipe.
Start with boiling the milk and simmer it, add cardamom powder.
Dry roast sooji for a couple of minutes add grated Lauki with a little ghee and sugar for a few mins.
Add mava into the Lauki, condensed milk to taste and mix.
Combine the Lauki mixture into the milk mixture and adjust the sweetness.
Cook the kheer on a medium flame stirring occasionally for a few minutes until it gets nice and thick like custard.
Add nuts and serve it warm/cold garnish with nuts.

Celebrity Master Chef Dr Kaviraj Khialani is a Mumbai-based hotel-restaurant and food consultant. He is specialised in over 33 international cuisines and has quality experience with hotels and airlines as a part of his long journey of over two decades in his chosen field. Chef Kaviraj is a renowned author, academician, food designer, writer and has also been awarded several national awards and global recognitions for his talent & outstanding achievements. Besides having been featured on several food shows on ColorsTV and Star Plus he is a mentor, coach and guide to aspiring to be future chefs and hoteliers of tomorrow.

He can be contacted at twitter: @kaviraj_chef, Mobile: 91 9820939336. Mail: chefkaviraj249@gmail.com

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