Almond rice

I am delighted to say that I have just heard from an Indian lady who thinks I should include among my recipes her own favourite recipe: A recipe for almond rice. It should make an unusual dessert. Whether you like the dish may depend on whether you like almonds. If you are Dutch, of course, there will be no question. The Dutch all seem to LOVE almonds (particularly in their almond-flavoured Speculaas cakes and cookies) and Marzipan too is of course another almond-flavoured treat.



Badam Kheer (Almond Rice)

Ingredients:

25 almonds (badam)
1 litre milk
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
10-15 strands saffron, crushed, soaked in 1 tsp. warm milk
1 tsp rose water
5 pistachios crushed coarsely

Method:

Soak almonds for 30 mins in hot water
Peel the skin of almonds
Grind the almonds into paste with 1/2 cup water
Bring the milk to boil in heavy pan
Add almond paste
Keep stirring occasionally till semi-solid
Add sugar, cardamom powder, rose water and saffron
Cook for 2 minutes
Garnish with pistachios
Serve chilled or hot

Makes 5 servings; Shelflife: 1 day