Chana Dal Ki Kheer

(Sweet Sunshine)

Everyone who has sweet tooth like me looovveee halwas and kheers!! Being a hyderabadi I have heavy influence of muslim culture and food. Their food is so rich in taste and full of flavours especially deserets. At all my friends weddings I would finish my dinner quickly to gorge on the deserts. Most famous deserts in a muslim weddings and household are double ka meetha, kaddu ka kheer and the all time favourite Qubani ka meetha.

So last month at work, my colleague Ramiza got this delicious kheer and I totally loved it. She then told me this is a famous desert in bangalore muslim weddings and is a very easy to make, So I tried this recipe and it turned out very well and was instant hit at home!

Ingredients

Chana Dal 1 1/2 cup
Khova/ Mawa 1 cup
Sugar 1 cup
Milk 2 cups
Cardamon powder 1 tsp
Ghee 2 tsp
Dry fruits( Cashew, Badam, pista, Walnuts)
Pinch of food Colour Yellow or Orange(Optional)

Method:

Wash and soak Chana dal for few hours. Cover and pressure cook soaked dal on medium heat and allow it to whistle 2 times.

In a mixer jar, add cooked chanal dal with some milk and make a smooth paste, add more milk if the consistency is too thick. 

In a non stick pan/thick bottomed vessel add ghee and cook dal for few minutes untill the raw smell leaves. Add the remaining milk and continue stirring the dal for few more minutes.

Now add khova and mix it thoroughly with the dal. Cover and let it cook for another few minutes.

While stirring continuoulsy add sugar, cardamon powder and food colour and cook on low flame for few more minutes.

Turn off the flame and add all your nuts, you can also optionally roast them in ghee to make the dish more rich. Serve it warm, it enhances the flavors in the kheer. And dry fruits/nuts are considered to be 'warming' in nature, so this is perfect for a cold winter day.  Actually you can give me a bowlful anytime of year, I would be equally happy :)

You can make a barfi of this kheer too. On a greased plate or a baking tray spread thick layer of kheer and let it sit in refrigerator for an hour or so, cut in desired shapes and garnish with some nuts and serve.