sama ke chawal ki kheer ... vrat ka khana..

This sama ka chawal is also known as samyak ke chawal or parsai ke chawal. I am sure there are many more names for this grain but i have not found a reliable source to find out . Please let me know if you know a name of this grain in any other language. Pictures and another savory recipe of this grain is posted earlier on this blog and here comes a sweet pudding made with it . Sama ke chawal ki kheer is a delicacy of UP . I remember my dad used to like it very much and we learned about this grain just for the love of this kheer . Later on when i started experimenting with my food , the other recipes were worked upon...more sama ke chawal recipes coming on this space hopefully..

We are not fasting the Navratris but i decided to make this kheer just to celebrate in our own way . I miss the joys of fasting the nine days of Navaratri , making all new types of phalahaar food and being excited about it . The enthusiasm and excitement has mellowed down certainly , and the sense of inner harmony , which is so required for a nine day fasting is lacking too ... for reasons very obvious . Hopefully we will again be enjoying our fasting feasts in the coming years.... cooking a few phalahaar recipes and feasting on them once or twice during the fasting season is the way to bring myself closer to that sense of contentment i guess...this kheer made us feel really good when it was needed....

The recipe is very simple , actually easier than the rice kheer we make . Usually i used to make this kheer by cooking the grains directly in milk , but this time i decided to soak the grains overnight and this made the cooking time really shortened....also , the texture of the kheer was better this way.

A cup of sama ke chawal was soaked in water overnight . In the morning it was added to a liter of boiling milk . Using full cream milk will be good as the kheer will be creamy and rich that way . Although skimmed milk can also be used with fairly good results. The boiling kheer is cooked on low flame , stirring a couple of times in between . We were having our morning tea , with stretched out news papers all around... when the kheer was cooking and i just stirred it once after mixing the sama ke chawal in the boiling milk. Thick base of the pan and really low flame will be helpful if you are not around in the kitchen all the while. That is the reason i said it is easier than the rice kheer as that needs frequent stirring for longer duration...this kheer will be ready , creamy and rich within 25-30 minutes of cooking ...

Add sugar to taste , we like very light sugar in this kheer , try less sugar first and add more if you need so . Add some chopped nuts of choice , i added slivered almonds...

The kheer thickens when cooled down , and tastes great even then . Consistency can be adjusted according to preference .

I call up my dad whenever i make something he used to like when we were kids , and he was free of sugar restrictions .... otherwise i am not a frequent caller , yes that is the way i am ... now i am reminded of another call i have to make and leaving you all to enjoy this kheer for your fasting ...or otherwise , like we did...