Phirni With Rice Flour

Summer is setting in and by the initial looks of it , it seems that this one will be a long heat wave. During this period I am on a mission to prepare certain cuisines that not only taste good but also helps the body to beat the heat. One of such dessert that acts as a soothing agent after a heavy lunch is called Firni ( Rice Pudding) . It may have originated from the Middle east  but now a days it has become a delicacy in the South Asia particularly in India and Pakistan. The key point in preparation is that it must be refrigerated and then eaten. Hope you like this dessert as a finale at the end of a sumptuous meal.

Ingredients:
1/2 ltr Milk + 3 tbsp hot milk separate in a cup
60 gm Rice flour
50 gm Sugar
1 tsp Cardamom powder
1 tsp Rose water
1 tbsp chopped Almonds and pistachios 
A few strands of saffron dipped in milk( approx. 2tsp milk)
Silver leaf for decoration (optional)

Method:
Boil milk in a heavy pan on medium heat till it reduces to half of it's original quantity. Keep stirring in between. Make a paste with rice flour and hot milk in a cup, dilute till you get a thin consistency.Add this to the pan and keep stirring so that no lumps are formed. Cook on low heat by stirring continuously for 10-12 minutes. 

The texture should be coarse  and little thick, now add sugar and mix well. Continue to cook on low flame the sugar dissolves. Before removing the pan from the heat, add cardamom powder and mix well. Remove from heat, add saffron strands liquid and rose water. Mix well. Pour into small individual earthen pots for best results and let it cool. Then chill it in the refrigerator for a while. Garnish with chopped nuts.