Milk - 1 litre
Dates - 100 gms ( deseeded)
Sugar - ½ cup ( or to taste)
Cornflour - 1 tbsp
Cardamom powder - 1 tsp
Nut meg powder - ½ tsp ( jathikkai or jaiphal powder)
Ghee - 1 tbsp
Chopped nuts ( of choice ) - ¼ cup
Reserve 10 dates for garnishing & chop the rest.
Soak the chopped dates in 1 cup hot milk ( from the 1 litre) for I hr.
Grind, not very fine, but coarse since it is nice to bite tiny pieces in the kheer.
Boil the rest of the milk, after reserving ½ cup cold for mixing the cornflour.
When the milk starts boiling, add the cornflour – milk mixture.
Stir, preventing lump formation & cook the cornflour.
Instead of boiling the milk for a long time & reducing it to get a thick consistency, I find this method easier & faster without any compromise on the taste.
Decrease the flame & add ground dates.
Simmer for a few mts & add sugar.
Mix well to dissolve the sugar, add spices & switch off.
Cool & chill.
Roast nuts & chopped ( reserved) dates in the ghee & sprinkle when serving.
This tastes very rich & can be served chilled.