As the Navratri festival has begun, Hindu devotees around the country are enthusiastically involved in making different types of dishes. This includes making kutta ki puri, aloo sabzi, sabudana khichadi, and many other dishes. Desserts are an integral part of the navratri menu as they are not only consumed by people but are also served as a prasad to the goddess during the regular morning and evening aarti. Kheer is a staple Indian dessert that most Indian households like to make on special occasions.
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Kheer made during navratri is not like the conventional one as it is not made with regular rice. It is made from specific and special navratri ingredients like makhanas, khus khus, and sewak rice. It can be made in a lot of different ways. Here are some delicious navratri kheer recipes that one can try.
* Makhana Kheer
Makhana kheer is a tempting dessert that is quite easy to make at home. This recipe requires one to roast some makhanas in ghee until they become crispy and golden in colour. Now the makhanas have to be dissolved in boiling milk until they start becoming soft. The milk can be sweetened with jaggery and dates. To make the kheer even more delicious, one can add different types of nuts like pistachios, almonds, and raisins. Many people also like to add a bit of cardamom and saffron to give a soothing and enticing flavour to the milk. Unlike the rice kheer, makhana kheer gets prepared very quickly.
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* Sabudana Kheer
Sabudana kheer is also a very quick recipe that is simply made by boiling the pearls of sabudana in milk until the pearls become chewy and soft. In the milk, one has to simply add some jaggery, syrup, dry fruits and a lot of nuts. The mixture has to be cooked until all the ingredients get properly dissolved, and a thick consistency of milk is formed. The dessert can be served both hot and cold as per one's preference.
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* Almond Milk Kheer
Almond milk kheer is a thickened version of almond milk that is flavoured with different types of ingredients like cinnamon, honey, and saffron. To make this dish, one has to mix honey in some almond milk and heat it on low flame. Other ingredients like cinnamon powder, dry fruits, saffron, and cardamom can also be added. The mixture should be heated on low flame until it becomes thick. Then it should be left for a few hours in the refrigerator. Before serving the dish, one has to garnish it properly with dates and dry fruits.
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* Saffron Kheer
Saffron Kheer is a quick fix for one's sweet cravings when one doesn't have a lot of time but wants to eat something delicious. It is made by first boiling milk and simultaneously soaking some samak rice in the water. The rice must be soaked in the water for at least 30 minutes. Now the rice has to be added to the milk very gently. Following this, one has to add some saffron, jaggery, powder, and dry fruits. One can also add some cardamom powder and salt to balance the flavours.
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* Carrot Kheer
Carrot kheer is a must-try Navratri recipe because it is not very often that one gets creative with conventional desserts. It is the ultimate vegetarian delight and a desi version of carrot pudding. One has to grate some carrots and add them to boiling milk. Following this, one has to gently add some jaggery powder and dry fruits to the mixture. Everything should be stirred very nicely. One must let the mixture cook for at least 10 to 12 minutes. This will allow the carrots to be immersed properly in the milk and yet remain crunchy.
* Khas Khas Kheer
Khas khas kheer is a beautiful mixture of different flavours and textures. One has to first boil khus khus so that it becomes soft and edible. Then in the khas khas, one has to add some butter and gently add boiled milk. Adding some malai can also help in making the dessert more creamy. For sweetening the dish, one can either add jaggery powder or sugar. The final step is to add a lot of dry fruits and cardamom powder for a nice fragrance and flavours. Adding some condensed milk is also an option if one wants to make the kheer extra creamy and heavy.