APRICOT RICE PHIRNI | APRICOT RICE PUDDING

Hello everyone, I think Holi without kheer or phirni is incomplete. Holi is a festival of fun, frolic and of course food! Gujjia, malpuas, sweets and snacks all bring out the festive magic. Well, this phirni recipe has a brilliant touch of apricots. I love to cook this phirni on special occasions. It's a heavenly treat. This creamy delicious phirni will be a delish for your friends and family this holi. So don't forget to try this awesome phirni this holi and cook the natural way!

You need

For apricot purée
10-12 dried apricots (roughly chopped)
1 teaspoon sugar
3 tablespoon water
2 small pieces of star anise (not the whole)

For phirni
1/2 cup rice
1 cup water (for soaking)
1/4 cup water (for grinding)
5 cups milk
6 green cardamoms
1/4 cup sugar (or less)
1/2 cup condensed milk (HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CONDENSED MILK)
1/2 cup dessicated coconut (or 3/4 cup fresh grated coconut)
1 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter)
1/3 cup nuts of your choice

Method

1. Wash rice and soak them in 1 cup water for atleast 2 hours. Later drain them and grind them with 1/4 cup water into a grainy paste.

2. In a pan, add apricot purée ingredients and cook till water evaporates. Discard star anise pieces and grind the apricots into a purée. Keep aside.

3. Now in a heavy bottom pan,  heat ghee and fry cardamoms till fragrant. You can fry nuts too at this stage.

4. Add rice, sugar and milk. Stir vigorously to avoid any lumps. Cook covered and keep stirring every now and then to prevent it from burning. It.may take 15-20 minutes.

5. Check if rice cooks completely, then add apricot purée, coconut and condensed milk. Mix well and cook for another 5 minutes. (you can add more milk if the consistency is very thick)

6. Garnish with chopped apricots (add some dessicated coconut to avoid the apricots sticking to each other) and serve hot or chilled! ENJOY!

Serves 5