10 Best Indian Kheer Recipe

Looking for a delicious kheer recipe? We have got for you rich, creamy, and indulgent Indian kheer recipes for every occasion.

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What is Kheer?
Secrets of a Perfectly Creamy Kheer
Here are 9 delicious Indian Kheer Recipes

What is Kheer?

Kheer is a popular dessert from the Indian sub-continent. It is a variety of milk pudding made with milk, rice, and flavoured with green cardamom, saffron, or at times with dry fruits.

They are easy to prepare and taste more delicious once chilled. Kheer is a perfect one-pot dessert for any celebratory occasion or Indian festival.

There are a variety of kheer recipes where rice is substituted with other grains, millets, fruits, vermicelli and so on. It is a gluten-free dessert that has a thick, creamy consistency. Also known as payasam in Southern part of India.

Secrets of a Perfectly Creamy Kheer

To make a delicious kheer is indeed an art. One thumb rule that I always follow with all the kheer recipes is – patience.

A good grandmother like kheer is never done in haste. It requires slow cooking and time for milk to thicken.

Here are few tried and tested tips to make a kheer tastier:

Full cream (fat) milk is the best to make any kheer or Indian pudding. The full-fat milk gives a thick and luscious texture to the kheer.
The Indian desserts like kheer are never done in a short span of time. They require patience and labor of love. Wait until the milk reduces almost to half the original amount and thickens nicely.
Always cook kheer over low heat and in a heavy bottom deep saucepan. Non-stick pan or lightweight vessels are not ideal for making a kheer as milk might get burnt.
Don’t forget to add cardamom, saffron, and dry-fruits in kheer. The richness and aroma in the Indian desserts come from all the mentioned ingredients.
Before adding dry-fruits fry them for 2 – 3 minutes in a tablespoon of ghee (clarified butter) for better taste.

How do you thicken kheer?

The thick and luscious texture of the kheer is like a dream come true. But that is not achieved by mixing the corn-starch slurry in the kheer. The best way to thicken kheer is to allow full-fat milk to simmer at low heat until it reduces almost half the original amount. Till then you don’t add sugar. Keep on stirring the kheer at regular intervals to collect the cream (malai) from the sides of the pan and combine it back into the milk. This gives kheer a creamy texture.

How long does Kheer last in the fridge?

During the summer season, kheer can be stored in the fridge for 2 – 3 days. While in cold regions or during the winter season it remains good for 3 – 5 days in the fridge. Kheer is a milk-based dessert hence it has a short shelf life. So it is best to consume any kind of milk pudding within a day or two.

Here are 9 delicious Indian Kheer Recipes

1) Rice Kheer Recipe is an age-old traditional Indian pudding prepared with three basic ingredients – milk, rice, and sugar. Also, known as chawal ki kheer. It is one of the most common types of kheer made on every auspicious occasion. Get FULL RECIPE

aerial shot of rice kheer in a black kadhai

2) Sabudana Kheer is a creamy Indian pudding made with sago pearls (sabudana), milk, and sugar. I am sharing with you a delicious version of sabudana kheer with carrots. Get FULL RECIPE

side close up shot of sabudana kheer in a glass mug

3) Makhana Kheer is a delicious gluten-free Indian milk pudding made with barnyard millet, foxnut, dry fruits, jaggery, and milk. The simple, fuss-free making process and the creamy texture are the highlights of this kheer recipe. Get FULL RECIPE

aerial shot of makhana kheer in a black ceramic bowl

4) Paneer Kheer is a delicious Indian sweet dish prepared with paneer (cottage cheese) and milk. You will be surprised to know that only 5 – ingredients are required to make this paneer ki kheer. Get FULL RECIPE

aerial shot of paneer kheer in a ceramic serveware

5) Lauki Ki Kheer is a delicious, perfectly creamy Indian pudding made with bottle gourd (lauki), sugar, and milk. Light on the stomach and big on flavours, Lauki Ki Kheer is a gluten-free dessert. Get FULL RECIPE

aerial shot of lauki kheer in a brass serving bowl

6) Apple Kheer is a delicious Indian milk pudding made with fresh apples and sweetened with dates. If you looking for healthy desserts to satiate the sweet cravings then apple kheer is the best Indian dessert recipe. Get FULL RECIPE

Sugar Free Apple Kheer in an earthen serving bowl.

7) Gobi Ki Kheer is a scintillatingly festive cauliflower kheer (pudding). While cauliflowers form the base of this kheer recipe, the rest of the ingredients list is basic – milk, sugar, saffron, and dry fruits. Get FULL RECIPE

Aerial shot of Gobi Ki Kheer in a black serving bowl.

8) Sheer Khurma or seviyan kheer is a traditional Indian dessert prepared on the auspicious occasion of Eid. It is rich, indulgent, and yet so simple to prepare. Get FULL RECIPE

aerial shot of seviyan kheer in a glass serving dish

9) Badam Kheer also known as Badam Payasam, is a rich and creamy South Indian dessert. Whether it’s a festive occasion or an everyday sweet craving, a Badam Kheer never fails to impress. Get FULL RECIPE

aerial shot of badam kheer in a brass bowl with a spoon

Bonus Phirni Recipes

Phirni is a rich, aromatic, and creamy milk pudding widely popular in the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to have come into existence during the Mughal era as a royal desert.

Here are a few Indian phirni recipes that you’ll love.

1) Vegan Badam Phirni has the goodness of almond milk, brown rice, and jaggery powder, making it a wholesomely delicious Indian dessert. GET FULL RECIPE

aerial shot of badam phirni in an earthen bowl

2) Phool Makhana Phirni is a low-carb twist to the classic phirni. The foxnut is a low-carbohydrate substitute for rice in this phirni recipe. GET FULL RECIPE

aerial shot of phool makhana phirni in an earthern bowl

3) Traditional Rice Phirni is a popular Indian sweet dish made with rice, milk, and sugar. This is a tried and tested Mughlai-style traditional phirni recipe. GET FULL RECIPE