Firni ( rice pudding) is a traditional dessert made from rice flour, milk and sugar. Firni is very popular dessert in Pakistan often served on dinners, weddings or special occasions. Traditionally its set in small terracotta bowls which gives it a very earthy flavour. Firni is different form of Kheer which is also a rice pudding but made from cooked ground rice that are slow cooked in milk.
Jump to RecipeHOW TO MAKE FIRNI (RICE PUDDING)
This is a very quick dessert to make. As it uses rice flour, it thickens the milk as soon as the rice flour is added. And it doesn’t require slow cooking to give it a creamy texture.
The following ingredients are required for Firni:
Milk – it has to be full fat milk. No light or reduced fat milk at all. They don’t give the creamy texture and you will be cooking it so long but your firni will not thicken up.
Ground Rice – use any store bought rice flour.
Sugar – raw or white sugar can be used. I have specified the amount I have used which is very subtle sweetness. If you like your dessert to be more sweet you can add slightly more.
Almonds and Pistachios are used to garnish. Use slivered almonds or you can soak the almonds in hot water to remove the skin and cut them thinly. Pistachios should be unsalted and chopped.
Cardamom – ground cardamom is added to milk and it gets infused as milk boils, giving it a beautiful aroma. You can buy cardamom powder or just crush cardamom in mortar and pestle discard the skin and use the grounded seeds.
Silver edible leaf is traditional but completely optional.
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
TIPS FOR MAKING FIRNI (RICE PUDDING)
- Use heavy based or non stick pan. And stir regularly to make sure it doesn’t stick at the bottom.
- If you taste test while cooking it may not appear to be that sweet when hot but when it cools down its almost one or two degree sweeter. So be careful when adding more sugar.
- It can be made ahead and refrigerated.
MORE DESSERTS TO TRY
Firni (Rice Pudding)
Ingredients
- 5 Cups Milk
- 2/3 Cup 85 g Rice Flour
- 2/3 Cup Sugar See Notes
- 1 Tsp Ground Cardamom See Notes
- 1/4 Cup Almonds Slivered
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Pistachios
- Silver Edible leaf Optional
Instructions
- In a heavy based or non stick pot add milk and cardamom powder. Bring it to boil and turn the heat medium low. Simmer the milk for around 10 minutes while stirring.
- Add rice flour while continuously stirring. Make sure they are mixed in and no lumps are formed. If you see any lumps break them with a spoon or use a whisk. Cook until its thickened.
- Add sugar and mix until sugar is dissolved. Once it starts to bubble it means its ready.
- Pour it into serving bowl or individual bowls. Put sliver leaf on it and garnish with almond and pistachios. Chill in the fridge before serving.
Notes
- The amount of sugar specified makes it very subtley sweet, if you prefer more sweetness add more sugar.
- You can buy cardamom powder or just crush cardamom in mortar and pestle discard the skin and use the grounded seeds.
