Celebrate Eid with this healthy version of the good old sheer khurma

Eid Mubarak! Eid-ul-Fitr, also known as Meethi Eid, marks new beginnings. Now, we all know that before starting something new, kuchh meetha is almost mandatory. When it comes to Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the most significant desserts is sheer khurma. The vermicelli pudding is specially prepared for the festival of Eid. 

Sheer is the Persian term for milk and khurma is another word for dates. The dish is a delicious amalgamation of sewai, milk, ghee, sugar, dates, and lots of nuts. At the same time, those who are health-conscious might want to swap some of these ingredients with healthier alternatives. 

So, we’ve brought you a recipe to help you enjoy the beloved dessert without compromising on health!

Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

1 litre full cream milk

2 tbsp ghee

2 tbsp dates

2 tbsp pistachios

2 tbsp almonds

2 tbsp cashew nuts

2 tbsp raisins

1 cup/100 gm vermicelli (sewai)

½ cup condensed milk (a healthy alternative for sugar)

¼ tsp cardamom powder

½ tsp saffron (for garnishing)

Chopped nuts and dates (for garnishing)

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to prepare sheer khurma:

Step 1: First, let’s chop all the dry fruits. So, chop the dates, pistachios, almonds, and cashews.

Step 2: Take a wide pan and add milk to it. Boil the milk until it is reduced in volume by roughly a quarter and becomes slightly thick or creamy.

Step 2: After this, transfer the milk to a bowl and keep it aside.

Step 3: Take desi ghee in a pan and put it on medium flame. 

Step 4: Add chopped almonds, dates, pistachios, cashew nuts, and raisins to the pan with desi ghee. Saute all the ingredients. 

Step 5: Now, add vermicelli to this mix and roast well until it turns golden brown in colour. 

Note: Be careful because vermicelli tends to burn faster.

Step 6: Next, add boiled milk to the pan and stir well. Increase the heat and let the mixture come to a boil. Stir often in between so that the vermicelli doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.

Step 7: Lower the heat and let it boil for another 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 8: Add condensed milk and cardamom powder to the pan. Let this mixture simmer for 2 minutes and then, turn off the heat.

Step 9: Transfer the contents of the pan to a serving bowl and let it cool down. Now, garnish the sheer khurma with nuts, dates, and saffron.

You can serve sheer khurma warm or chilled, according to your preference!