Rice Kheer (Indian Rice Pudding)

Rice kheer or Indian rice pudding is the most loved Traditional Indian desserts prepared on stovetop & nowadays in instant pot. This instant pot Kheer made with three basic ingredients rice, whole milk, & sugar, a perfect dessert to finish off the meal.

Kheer, rice pudding is known as “chawal ki kheer” a very quick Indian sweet dish that needs only three basic ingredients available with no extra work. It gets ready under 30 minutes on the stovetop or in the instant pot.

This lip-smacking kheer can be prepared on any festive occasion like Diwali or Holi or Ganesh Chaturthi or Janamashtmi. Rice kheer is also served after a meal as a dessert.

This is one Indian sweet which is quickly prepared any day with basic pantry staples.

What is Rice kheer

Kheer or Payasam is a type of pudding from the Indian subcontinent, made by boiling milk and sugar with one of the following: rice, broken wheat, millet, tapioca, vermicelli, or sweet corn. It is flavored with desiccated coconut, cardamom, raisins, saffron, cashews, pistachios, almonds, or other dry fruits and nuts. Source

Indian rice pudding is eggless unlike Instant pot rice pudding in other countries.

Indian rice kheer, Indian rice pudding, chawal ki kheer, and Instant pot kheer all belong to “Rice Kheer”. In South India Kheer is called Payasam. But the main difference in kheer & payasam is a sweetener. Payasam is prepared using Jaggery and has thin consistency whereas kheer is having sugar.

To check kheer or pudding’s consistency, drop a spoonful of kheer, milk, and rice both should go down together. If not means kheer is not ready and needs more cooking in terms of thickness.

Phirni has a similar preparation but uses ground rice. Kheer is a classic Indian dessert prepared often.

Why you will love instant pot kheer

Rice kheer taste amazing either you cook on stovetop or in instant pot. However, cooking in instant pot has some extra benefits.

• It is easy, dump and go recipe.
• Just 3 ingredients quick dessert.

Ingredients

Please check RECIPE CARD for detailed ingredients list with accurate measurement.

• Milk– Whole milk gives a nice rich & creamy texture to this rice kheer. It is highly recommended to use full-fat milk. with 2% or low-fat milk you can not achieve the right consistency required for kheer. You can use plant-based milk as well to make it vegan however be sure that overall taste will be different.
• Rice– I am using long grain basmati rice. You can use any starchy rice.
• Sweetener– I used sugar to make this kheer, you can use stevia, honey, condensed milk, or jaggery as well. AGAIN, it will change the taste.
• Flavour– Cardamom powder is my go-to flavoring in Indian sweets & desserts.
• Nuts– Chopped almonds, cashew, pistachio are used along with desiccated coconut.
• Desiccated coconut– This is my BEST ingredient to add in this simple kheer recipe. I never forget to add, do try it and you know why.

Different ways to flavour the kheer

Rice kheer is cooked with only 3 ingredients, milk, sugar & rice. However, adding a variety of flavors makes it tastier & delicious. This is completely optional but why not experiment without traditional dessert.

• Cardamom– By default, we add cardamom powder due to its fragrant flavor. It can make any sweet so aromatic.
• Rosewater– it gives a nice flowery aroma.
• Rose syrup– adding rose syrup not only gives flowery aroma but adds a nice pink color as well.
• Paan– Pann gives a nice refreshing flavor to this rice kheer. A must-try flavor.
• Saffron strands– Saffron has distinct aroma and flavor. It gives a nice yellowish color as well.
• Kewra essence–
• Desiccated coconut– My must-have secret ingredient to this instant pot rice kheer is this “desiccated coconut”. Adding it gives a nutty chewy texture, thicken the kheer and that taste is just delicious.
• Cinnamon– In other countries, cinnamon or nutmeg is used to flavor the pudding.
• Vanilla– Few drops of vanilla essence is enough to give aromatic flavor.

How to make Indian rice pudding

Traditionally to make chawal ki kheer boil milk with rice and cook until rice cooked nicely. Add sugar and dry fruits and cook until it is thick enough.

Instant pot kheer recipe is hand free, no baby sitting and hasselfree to make under 30 minutes. You may not notice any visible difference wheather it is cooked on stovetop or in instant pot.

So let see how to make Indian rice pudding or kheer in instant pot step by step.

Instant Pot Kheer

Step-1 Clean instant pot thoroughly

The first step is to clean IP throughly in order to prevent curdling the milk while cooking. Yes, that is very important as I faced it personally if not.

Step-2 Clean & wash rice

Clean and wash rice. Rinse well and keep it aside.

Step-3 Prepare nuts

Chop all nuts finely and keep them ready.

Step-4 Add ingredients in instant pot

Add chopped nuts, milk, sugar, desiccated coconut & cardamom poder in instant pot.

Step-5 Cook & serve

Press “Porridge Mode” on which automatically sets 20 minutes of cooking. Once timer is up let the pressure releases naturally.

Open the instant pot and give a nice stir. Serve it immediately or let it cool down and keep in the fridge. Serve once chilled.

Rice Kheer Stovetop Method

Step-1 Clean & wash rice

First of all, clean and wash rice.

Step-2 Boil milk

Take a deep pan, add milk and boil it on medium flame.

Step-3 Add rice & cook

Once the milk is boiled add rice and cook on medium to low flame. Keep stirring occasionally otherwise it will burn at the bottom.

It takes around 20-25 minutes to get thickness and rice cooked nicely.

Step-4 Add chopped nuts, sugar, and coconut.

Add dry fruits, grated coconut, cardamom powder, raisins, and sugar. Mix nicely and cook on low flame for 1-2 minutes till sugar dissolves.

Add saffron strands too if you are making kheer with saffron.

Step-5 Garnish & Serve

Simmer for 2 minutes. Transfer into a serving bowl and garnish with chopped dry fruits.

Rice kheer or Indian rice pudding is ready to serve hot. Keep in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving.

Serving suggestions

Now how do you serve kheer, cold or warm? It depends on personal choice. You can enjoy this yummy Indian dessert in both way.

It taste great when served chilled. You can also drizzle with rose syrup while serving.

Or make a fusion dessert with carrot halwa.

Storing & Reheating

You can store this simple rice kheer in airtight container for 3-5 days. Make sure it is completely cool down before storing.

You can reheat either in saucepan or just one minute in microwave is enough.

Variations

• You can add mango puree once rice kheer is cooked. This version is known as “Mango Kheer”, another popular variation of kheer.
• You can serve it with jelly cubes as well to make kheer as a fusion dessert.
• Adding rose syrup after the cooking process is complete gives you rose-flavored kheer.
• In Canada or in America, rice pudding prepared in an instant pot adding egg yolks, a pinch of cinnamon, and nutmeg.
• You can add condensed milk as well. Use 1/2 cup of condensed milk once cooking is complete, mix well, and adjust sugar afterward. Condensed milk is already very sweet.
• Similarly, kheer or pudding can be made with bottle gourd, carrot, tapioca pearls, pumpkin, lotus seed.
• You can top it with caramel sauce while serving instant pot rice pudding without eggs.

Tips & FAQ’s

• You can skip adding nuts in Indian rice kheer if any nut allergy. It tastes great even without any nuts in them.
• Skip the sugar and add jaggery powder. Though both have almost similar calories jaggery has slightly better in terms of nutrition.
• Rice kheer thickens with time. Adjust thickness by adding milk and give a boil.
• Do add cardamom powder, it gives a nice aroma. You can add saffron strands as well to get the slight yellow color with flavor.
• Adding dry coconut which is also known as khopra or sookha nariyal makes it rich and a delicious sweet dish. Just try and I bet you will love this even more.