Easy Phirni Recipe (Indian Rice Pudding)
Creamy North Indian phirni (firni) made with ground basmati rice and whole milk, sweetened with sugar and scented with cardamom. Off-heat rice slurry keeps the texture silky; chill until spoonable.
Equipment
- Heavy-bottomed saucepan or kadai
- Whisk
- Blender or spice grinder
- Heatproof spatula
Ingredients
Rice base
- 1/4 cup basmati rice rinsed and soaked 30 minutes in cool water
- 2 to 3 tbsp whole milk from the measured milk below; for grinding
Pudding
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1/2 to 2/3 cup granulated sugar to taste
- 4 to 5 green cardamom pods or 1/2 tsp ground cardamom; crushed and seeds ground fine with a pinch of sugar
- Pinch saffron strands, optional, bloomed in 1 tbsp warm milk
- Pinch fine salt, optional
Finish
- 2 tbsp mixed pistachios and almonds thinly sliced or slivered
- 1/2 to 1 tsp rose water optional
Instructions
Grind the soaked rice
- Drain soaked rice well. Blend with 2 to 3 tbsp milk from the measured 4 cups until smooth and thick, scraping the jar once. Paste should not feel gritty when rubbed between fingers.
Cook the milk and rice
- Heat remaining milk to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring so the bottom does not scorch.
- Remove pot from heat. Whisk in rice paste in a thin stream until smooth.
- Return to low heat. Cook 18 to 22 minutes, stirring constantly, especially at edges, until mixture thickly coats a spoon and a line drawn through it holds briefly.
Sweeten, flavor, and chill
- Stir in sugar, ground cardamom, optional saffron milk, and optional salt. Cook on low 4 to 6 minutes until glossy again.
- Off heat, stir in rose water if using.
- Pour into small bowls. Scatter nuts while surface is tacky. Cool, then chill at least 3 hours, ideally overnight.
Notes
Always whisk rice paste into hot milk off the heat first to avoid lumps.
Refrigerate up to 3 days in an airtight container; stir in a splash of milk if the surface looks dry.
For vegan phirni, use barista oat or unsweetened soy milk and a small cornstarch slurry in the last few minutes if needed.
Chilling time is not included in active cook time; plan ahead for dessert service.
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