Thandai Phirni Recipe – A Delicious Indian Rice Dessert
Phirni is a traditional Indian rice pudding-like dessert that is rich, creamy, and bursting with the flavors of thandai—a mixture of aromatic spices. This easy-to-make dessert is perfect for festive occasions like Holi, where it’s traditionally served alongside snacks like Dahi Vada and Pyaaz Kachori. The combination of full cream milk, basmati rice, and sugar, enhanced by a homemade thandai powder, creates a delightful treat that’s perfect for a vegetarian diet.
Cuisine: Indian
Course: Dessert
Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients:
- 1 liter Full Cream Milk
- 1/4 cup Rice
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Cardamom Powder (Elaichi)
- 2 tablespoons Thandai Powder (see below for ingredients)
- For Garnishing:
- Pistachios, as required
- Whole Almonds (Badam), as required
- Saffron strands, few for garnishing
For Thandai Powder (dry roast and grind all ingredients into a fine powder):
- 1/3 cup Whole Almonds (Badam)
- 2 tablespoons Cashew nuts
- 1 teaspoon Fennel seeds (Saunf)
- 1 tablespoon Poppy seeds
- 1 tablespoon Melon seeds
- 1/2 tablespoon Black pepper powder
- 4-5 Cardamom (Elaichi) Pods/Seeds, green
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Instructions:
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Soak the Rice: Wash and soak the rice in water for about 1 hour. After soaking, drain the rice and pat it dry using an absorbent cloth. Blend the rice into a coarse powder for the phirni base.
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Prepare the Milk: In a heavy-bottomed pan, pour the full cream milk and bring it to a boil. Once it begins to boil, reduce the heat to low.
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Cook the Rice in Milk: Add the ground rice to the boiling milk. Stir continuously to prevent lumps from forming. As the rice cooks, the milk will start to thicken.
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Flavor the Phirni: When the mixture begins to thicken, add the sugar, cardamom powder, and thandai powder. Continue stirring the mixture for another 5-10 minutes until the consistency turns pudding-like.
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Cool and Set: Turn off the heat and allow the phirni to cool completely. Once cooled, pour it into small earthen pots or serving dishes.
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Refrigerate: Place the pots in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours, allowing the phirni to set.
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Garnish and Serve: Before serving, garnish the Thandai Phirni with chopped pistachios, almonds, saffron strands, and, optionally, rose petals.
Enjoy this delightful dessert with snacks like Dahi Vada and Pyaaz Kachori during Holi or any other festive occasion!
This Thandai Phirni recipe brings together the traditional essence of Indian desserts with a touch of festive spice, offering a refreshing and rich indulgence for every sweet tooth.
