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Vanilla Apricot Black Rice Kheer Payasam. The rice is soft and chewy with a nutty taste and a heady aroma. Flavoursome, delicious and nutritious!
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Healthy Black Rice Payasam / Kheer with Vanilla and Apricots

Exotic Healthy Payasam /Kheer /Pudding of Black Rice, Vanilla, Apricots and Pistachio. The Black 'Forbidden Rice' is nutritious and disease fighting, fragrant and with a pleasant nutty taste. No ghee is used in this kheer.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Soak Time3 hours
Total Time4 hours 10 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Indian
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Sujata Shukla

Ingredients

For the Black Forbidden Rice Kheer

  • 1 cup black rice
  • 2 cups water
  • a Pinch salt
  • 2 cups milk OR 2 cups almond milk for a vegan version
  • ¼ cup milk (extra if required)
  • ¾ cup jaggery Powdered
  • ¼ cup Dried apricots
  • 2 pods cardamom (optional)
  • ½ pod vanilla OR 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons Condensed Milk

For the Garnish

  • 2 tablespoons Pistachio nuts Unsalted
  • 2 tablespoons Condensed Milk (optional)
  • dried apricot slices Reserved slices from ingredients above

Instructions

How to Cook Black Rice (Time: Soaking 3 hours; Cooking 15 -20 minutes)

  • Wash the Rice as you would for any other Rice to be cooked. That is, rinse with potable water, drain, and repeat at least twice or till the water in which you are rinsing the rice, is clear.
  • Soak the rice in double its volume of water, for at least 3 hours, to reduce cooking time. Transfer the soaked rice along with the water, to a pressure cooker. Add a pinch of salt to the rice, and pressure cook on high for one whistle. Note: I have retained the water in which the rice was soaked, so that nutrients are not lost.
    Soak the rice in double its volume of water
  • Lower the flame and continue to cook for 10 minutes or about 6 more whistles. Turn off the stove and let the cooker cool before opening it, so that the rice cooks completely under its own steam, and all the water is absorbed.
    Pressure Cook till all the water is absorbed

Preparations (Time: 5-10 minutes)

  • 1. Slice the dried apricots into small pieces, the size of currants or half of a small raisin. Reserve 1 table spoon for the garnish. 2. Shell the pistachio nuts and Toast them. Slice into thin slivers or small pieces.
  • 3. Crush the cardamom seeds keeping them in the pod, so that they can be easily removed whole, while serving.

How to make Black Rice Payasam / Kheer (Time: Cooking 35- 40 minutes)

  • While the cooker is cooling down, heat the milk in a thick bottomed pan. Bring to a boil and then allow to simmer on low flame for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, while it thickens. For a vegan version, substitute the milk with almond milk.
  • In another pan, melt the powdered jaggery on low flame, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes or till the raw smell of the jaggery has disappeared. Crush any remaining lumps and stir so that the jaggery dissolves completely.
  • Add the jaggery water to the milk, stir it in. Add the apricots and cook on low flame for 5 minutes, stirring frequently so that it does not catch at the bottom of the pan.
    Add the jaggery to the milk
  • Add the cooked rice, stir it in. Cook on low flame for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. If the payasam appears too thick, stir in ¼ cup of warm milk.
    Add the cooked Black rice
  • Scrape the seeds from the vanilla pod and add, or add the vanilla extract, if using. Add the cardamom. Stir. The Black rice has a heady fragrance, so you may wish to omit the cardamom. Add the condensed milk, cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. For a vegan version, omit this step.
  • Serve hot, garnished with pieces of the reserved apricots, some slivers of pistachio and a dash of condensed milk (almond milk for vegans)

Notes

The Black Rice I used in this recipe was purchased and paid for by me. The reference to http://www.firstagro.com/ is only to help source the main ingredients for this recipe, and further, to acknowledge the zero pesticide, non GMO produce that they supply, which inspire the creation of recipes from unusual and exotic and healthy ingredients. SaveSave