Makhana Kheer
A delicious Indian dessert made with an Lotus seeds /Lotus nuts[or Makhana in Hindi].
Lotus seeds are a part of East Asian cuisine and are used extensively in Chinese medicine and Chinese desserts.Here is some information on lotus seeds from Wikipedia
I used:
Milk- 5 cups
Lotus seeds – 15 numbers
Almonds -10 numbers
Pista nuts-10 numbers
Saffron-a few strands,soaked in a tablespoon on warm milk
Cardamom powder- a pinch
Sugar to taste
Ghee-2 tablespoons
Roasted pista nuts- to garnish
1. Microwave the almonds for 2 minutes and remove skin. Soak pista nuts in hot water for 5 minutes.
2. Grind almonds and pista nuts to a smooth paste adding a little water and keep aside.
3. Heat ghee in a small pan.Put in lotus seeds[in batches] and fry till it puffs up/turns light brown. Drain and keep aside.
4. Heat milk in a heavy bottom pan and when it comes to a boil, simmer.
5. Put in the ground nut paste, sugar, lotus seeds and mix well.
6. Keep stirring once in a while so that it does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
7. When the volume of milk reduces to ¾ th, put in cardamom powder and saffron.
8. Let it cook for a couple of minutes and remove from heat.
Serve warm or chilled garnished with roasted pista nuts.Bon appetit...