### Strawberry Phirni Recipe: A Simple Dessert Crafted with Rice, Milk, Sugar, and Indian Strawberries
Strawberry phirni is a luscious, fruity dessert that is ideal for marking special occasions like birthdays, gatherings, or Valentine’s Day. As summer approaches and the strawberry season comes to a close, it’s the perfect moment to make use of these vibrant red berries in your culinary creations. This recipe provides a lovely twist to the classic Indian dessert, phirni, by adding fresh strawberry puree.
#### What is Phirni?
Phirni is a traditional Indian rice pudding crafted from full cream milk, soaked rice paste, sugar, cardamom, and topped with sliced pistachios or almonds. It is conventionally presented in earthen pots (matkas) and has roots in the Middle East, introduced to the Indian subcontinent by the Mughals. Variations of phirni may include flavors such as rose syrup, mango puree, saffron, chocolate, or strawberry.
#### Ingredients
– 1/4 cup basmati rice (soaked for 30 minutes)
– 4 cups full cream milk
– 1/2 cup sugar (adjust to taste)
– 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
– 1 cup fresh strawberry puree (or strawberry coulis)
– Sliced pistachios or almonds for garnish
#### Instructions
1. **Prepare the Rice Paste**: Drain the soaked basmati rice and blend it into a smooth paste with a small amount of water if needed.
2. **Boil the Milk**: In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat the full cream milk until it reaches a boil.
3. **Add Rice Paste**: Slowly incorporate the rice paste into the boiling milk, stirring continuously to prevent lumps from forming.
4. **Cook the Mixture**: Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring often, until it thickens (approximately 15-20 minutes).
5. **Sweeten and Flavor**: Stir in the sugar and cardamom powder, mixing until the sugar is fully dissolved.
6. **Incorporate Strawberry Puree**: Take the pan off the heat and allow it to cool slightly. Once it’s cooled, gently fold in the fresh strawberry puree.
7. **Serve**: Spoon the strawberry phirni into serving dishes. Drizzle with extra strawberry coulis for a marbled appearance and sprinkle with sliced pistachios or almonds for an added crunch and color.
#### Tips
– If you’re pressed for time, you can replace the soaked rice with rice flour for a faster preparation.
– Modify the sweetness according to your liking by adjusting the sugar quantity.
– For a more pronounced strawberry taste, you might opt for a strawberry coulis.
Strawberry phirni is not just visually striking with its pink hue but also presents a delightful mix of creamy texture and fruity flavor, making it an excellent choice to wow family and friends. Savor this refreshing dessert that embodies the spirit of summer and the sweetness of strawberries!