Chocolate rice pudding/ Chawal kheer

My daughter's pongal holidays have started and she is so happy. Wanted to make some dessert for her. She doesn't like the traditional kheer but just like all other kids she is a great lover of chocolates. Browsed through few food blogs and found this chocolate kheer, a combination of regular rice pudding and chocolate. Tried it for the first time and it came out so yummy, I am loving it!!

Ingredients:

Rice: 1/4 cup
Sugar: 1/4 cup
Cardamom powder: 2 tsp
Milk: 4 cups
Water: 2 cups
Cashew paste: 2 tbsp
Sliced Almonds: 10
Sweetened Condensed Milk: 2 tbsp
Dairy Milk Chocolate: 38 grams
Clarified butter(Ghee): 1 tbsp

Method:

1. Wash and soak rice overnight.
2. Heat clarified butter/ghee in a deep bottomed vessel and fry the almonds till golden brown. Transfer them to a plate.
   
3. Add some ghee if required and fry the rice for 1 minute. 
   
4. Add milk, cardamom powder and let the rice cook in milk. Allow the rice to overcook.
5. When the rice is completely cooked add sugar, milkmaid and cashew paste. 
   
6. Remove from flame when the mixture turns little thick. Garnish with fried almonds and rice kheer is ready.
   
7. Serve hot or refrigerate it. Tastes good both hot and cold.

For chocolate kheer:

1. Add the pieces of chocolate to a bowl and put the bowl in hot water.
2. Chocolate starts to melt, now add this melted chocolate to rice kheer and mix well. 
3. Garnish with grated chocolate and Chocolate kheer is ready. 

Notes:

• You can add jaggery instead of sugar. It is good for kids as it is a rich source of iron and helps in treating throat and lung infections. 

Sent this recipe to Gayatri's cook spot