Firni: Rice Pudding with Saffron & Nuts
This is one special recipe I learnt to make this from a very dear friend of mine. Once during a friends meet my dear friend F walked in with a big bowl of something so aromatic that I immediately uncovered to see that it this beautiful orangish yellow cream speckled with green & white nuts was. She smiled & said “It’s Firni, & the color is the color of Saffron“! I wanted to skip food & dive in to this right away…. But we waited & waited till dinner was over…finally when we did get to have this I was totally floored, needless to say Firni was the star of the evening… it tasted divine. Thank you so much dear one for introducing this to me, for this is one of our top favorites now.
Firni is a kind of Rice Pudding, made with Powdered Rice. It is similar to what we call “kheer” or “payasam” in India, but unlike Kheer/Payasam, it does not use whole rice grains. Firni is flavored with lots of Saffron & Cardamom & adorned with a lot of Nuts & sometimes Dry fruits too.
The Consistency of Firni varies from thick- where one has to really scoop out with a spoon to creamy -where it will gently coat a spoon. Traditionally in India Firni is served Chilled in Earthenware/Clay cups called Matkas. It tastes better when the flavors are allowed to mature for 6-7 hours or even for a day. Some versions of Firni are baked in the cups after they are cooked, then chilled & served. I do not bake the Firni. My hubby likes his Firni the creamy way.. not too thick & lumpy. So this version is the creamy & of course an easy version of Firni.
This dish probably would have been an influence of the Mughal invasions to India. Along with them came the rich fragrant food and thereafter mingled & planted their roots the Indian cuisine to form a part of it. Similar kind of Rice Pudding desserts, with little variations are also a part of Turkish, Lebanese, Greece, Afghan, African & many other European & Mediterranean cuisines.
Below are the different kinds & names of Rice Puddings around the world…. (info taken from WIKI):
South Asia
- Kheer (Nepali/Indian/Pakistani) with slow-boiled milk
- Payasam (South Indian) with slow-boiled milk, sugar/jaggery and lots of nuts
- Firni (Tajik) and (Pakistani/North Indian) with broken rice, cardamom and pistachio served cold.
Middle East
- Moghlie (Arab) with anise and ginger
- Riz bi haleeb (Eastern) or ruz bil-laban (Egyptian), (lit. “rice-in-milk”) (Arab) with rosewater and occasionally mastic
- Shola-e-zard (Iranian) and (Tajik) with saffron
- Shir-berinj (Tajik) and (Iranian) Rice pudding
Europe
- Arroz Doce or Arroz de Leite (Portuguese) with rice, sugar, milk, cinnamon and lemon
- Budino di Riso (Italian) with milk, eggs, raisins and orange peel
- Arroz con leche (Spanish) with milk, sugar, cinnamon and lemon
- Сутлијаш (Macedonian) – Лапа – typical rice pudding with black poppy seeds
- Milchreis (German) with cinnamon or cherries
- Mlečni riž (Slovene)
- Mliečna ryža (Slovak)
- Mляко с ориз (Bulgarian) with milk and cinnamon
- Orez cu lapte (Romanian) with milk and cinnamon
- Rijstebrij (Dutch) or Rijstpap (Flemish)
- Rizogalo or Ryzogalo (ρυζόγαλο ‘rice milk’, Greek) with milk and cinnamon.
- Riža na mlijeku (Croatian)
- Sutlijaš (Bosnian/Serbian)
- Sytlijash (Albanian)
- Sultjash (Albanian) Dialect
- Tameloriz (Albanian/Kosovar)
- Sütlaç (Turkish < sütlaş < sütlü aş ‘rice with milk’), served either hot or cold; often browned in a salamander broiler and garnished with cinnamon. May be sweetened with sugar or pekmez or not.
- Teurgoule (Normandy)
- Oriz na vareniku (Montenegrin)
- Tejberizs (Hungarian) with milk, cinnamon or cocoa powder
- Сутляш or Мляко с ориз (Bulgarian)
- Sutlijas (Bosnian)
- Молочная рисовая каша (Russian)
- Молочна рисова каша (Ukrainian), also can appear as “кутя” for Christmas (served with dried fruits and nuts)
Latin America
- Arroz con leche (Latin American) with cinnamon and condensed milk
- Arroz con dulce/Arroz con coco (Puerto Rican) with coconut milk, sugar and cinnamon
- Arroz-doce (Brazilian) with milk, sugar and cinnamon
Now here is Firni, the Indian way….
Ingredients:
- 3/4 Cup Raw Basmati Rice
- 3/4 Gallon Whole Milk
- 1/2 Quart Half & Half or Evaporated Milk
- 3/4 Cup Almonds
- 7-8 Small Green Cardamoms
- 1.5 Cup Sugar
- 1/2 Teaspoon Saffron
- Unsalted Raw Pistachios for Garnish
- 1 teaspoon Rose Water
Preparation:
Wash the rich thoroughly & soak in water for about 2 hours. The grains will get longer & whiter. Drain the water & spread all the rice on a paper towel. Set aside till completely dry to touch. The best way would be to leave it overnight.
Soak the Almonds in the water overnight. Peel the almonds. Separate 1/2 Cup and slice them fine. Set the sliced almonds aside.
Peel the cardamoms & take out the seeds.
Take the dry rice, & the cardamom seeds & dry grind till the rice becomes a powder. It should NOT be as fine as confectionary sugar. It should be grainy like regular sugar or like rawa/semolina. Keep aside.
Take 1/2 cup of milk, saffron & the rest of the unchopped almonds & blend till the almond is all blended with the milk.
Take a thick bottomed pan. Combine all the milk (including the part blended with saffron & almond) & half & half and boil at low heat till it reduces a little bit in amount.
Add the sliced almonds. Now its time to add the dry rice powder. This has to be done in little batches.
Take a tablespoon of rice powder & slowly add it to the boiling milk, while stirring vigourously to prevent the powder from forming lumps. It should all blend it smooth with no lumps at all.
Continue the same process till all the rice powder is added to the milk.
Boil the milk with everything in it while frequently stirring it, till it starts getting thick & the rice is all cooked. Once cooked the rice grains will look like small cooked semolina/rawa.
Add the sugar & boil some more. If you want the Firni thicker, keep on boiling till it reaches the desired consistency.
Switch off the heat, & add the Rose water.
Top it with more saffron strands if you want. Chill or atleast 4-5 hrs(overnight is better) before serving it.
Garnish with pistachios or whatever nuts & dry fruits you would want. The pictures above have been taken right after I made it….it has not yet absorbed the color of the saffron. If you let it settle down atleast overnight, it will have that light orangish tinge of the saffron. Letting it mature also enhances the flavor.
Enjoy a chilled bowl of Firni after your dinner. This is for JUST FOR U hosted by Alka of Sindhi Rasoi - for my dear hubby who could eat all of these I make 
& also for my friend F from whom I learned to make this awesome dessert!!
Related Posts:
Saffron, Pistachio Ice Cream Served with Rose Infused Vermicilli
Sugar Grilled Mangoes with Saffron Yogurt & Nuts
Tags: almond rice dessert, Cardamom, chilled dessert, Firni, Indian Dessert, kheer, kinds of rice pudding, payasam, phirni, recipe for rice pudding, rice blanmange, rice pudding, Saffron
Details 
February 12th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Wonderful dear,i absolutely loved the sweet,informative and drool worthy post.
Thanks for the sending me this awesome firni,i love the flavor that saffron imparts to the dessert and not to forget that nice golden tinge
Thanks Alka:-)
February 12th, 2009 at 6:07 am
And hey i just realized u even changed the header,its just cute enough…..
Thanks! Very few noticed:-)… might go thru more change
February 12th, 2009 at 6:10 am
Mmmm … jodio ami mishti bhalobashina amake mishti banatei hoye karon amar hubbyr mishti chara chole na. Eta kokhono banaini … ebar banabo.
Great going Soma! 
My hubby has a very very sweet tooth.. he needs to have something sweet after every meal:)
February 12th, 2009 at 6:34 am
Oh Oh I traveled the whole world with that firni. looks yuumy, comforting and delish…..
LOL Lubna.. ! Hope U enjoyed the trip.
February 12th, 2009 at 6:37 am
Looks lovely, I am sure it tastes divine. One universally loved dessert it seems.
Thank you very much!
February 12th, 2009 at 6:43 am
looks so inviting soma! I really want some right now…
Thanks ! U are welcome to come over:-)
February 12th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Beautiful photos, Soma! Great post with lot of information, thanks!
)
Asha ! Thank you very much!
February 12th, 2009 at 7:51 am
Hey, you’ve got Croatian up there!
I was about to tell you about it when I spotted it.
Btw, I’ve been meaning to tell you I like the new look of your blog!
Yes I do.. Tho I could not say it ! Thanks!
February 12th, 2009 at 8:00 am
Fabulous! Sounds great with saffron and all the nuts – love it!
Thanks Natasha!
February 12th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Looks so yummy delicious, wish i had one bowl of that delicious payasom
Thanks!
February 12th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Looks divine the firni an international dessert!
Thanks Cham!
February 12th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Firni is my all time favorite ! thanks for posting the recipie !
Thanks Mohana!!
February 12th, 2009 at 10:33 am
hi soma,Lip-smacking firni..wonderful and eazy one:)will sure give it a try:)
Thanks Chitra!
February 12th, 2009 at 11:13 am
This looks soooo good! I love rice puddings like this!
Thank you Jenn!
February 12th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Phirni looks absolutely fantastic, very tempting…nice informative post !
Usha Thank u!
February 12th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
this is sooo delicious… lovely pictures
Thanks Indhu!
February 12th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Pocture looks kool, on a silk saree…you are very creative!
Thanks Malar!
February 12th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Oh this looks fabulous, the photography is stunning, Saffron, nuts.. Firni.. Rice Pudding.. Oh my goodness.. the words alone sound DELISH!
Thanks !
February 12th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Thanks for taking us on a world tour on puddings/kheer.
Heard a lot about firni. Haven’t got a chance to taste it yet. Your pics are tempting me to try it.
Thanks Jayasree:-)
February 13th, 2009 at 2:33 am
that’s a neat list, useful for ready reference
Thanks Sra!
February 13th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Lovely firni.Please trail back for my
token of gratitude
Thanks a Lot Yasmeen!
February 13th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
phirni looks deleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeecious.
)
Mahimaa Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaank You!:-)
February 13th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
OMG Soma, I am really drooling. I like this kind of dessert. I made Srikand once, and I realy fall in love. Now, I see this rice pudding with saffron (my son’s favorite ingredients, after capers) Just lovely.
Cheers,
Elra
Thanks Elra!
February 13th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I just wanted to let you know that I’ve just made this for A, and it tastes amazing
Thanks much for testifying me & so glad that u liked it:-)
February 13th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Soma…Ami kothaye post korbo boloje aami ja kichu ranna shikhechi shob tomar kach theke…Ekkhon sikhchi ecurry theke………
Fatema eta to tomar kach thekei shekha:-)
February 13th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
I haven’t had rice pudding in I don’t know how long. This looks amazing … the saffron is a great addition. I can smell it from here.
Thanks Chuck!
February 13th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Darun Chobi hoyeche, tomar valentines day prep je byapok parchi
February 13th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Sorry bolte jachilam…”prep je byapok hoyeche bujhte parchi”
Hehehe Sandeepa:-) barite boshe bachchader niye khawa chara to ar kichu bhabte pari na:-).. ,kintu shobi V day r aage shesh:-)
February 13th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Its great to see that so many cultures eat almost the same thing. I’m not surprised, because it tastes so good! Yours looks gorgeous.
Thanks Yaar!
February 14th, 2009 at 4:00 am
I like firni much better than keer because of the coarsely ground rice whic gives it a lovely consistency. Your bowls and the pictures look so elegant. beautiful!
Same here PG! & Thanks!
February 14th, 2009 at 10:29 am
This really looks great with saffron! I’ve never tried with saffron. Rice puddings are always so delicious. It’s great that you put the effort to to inform us about all the rice puddings aroundt he world! Very much appreciated.
ThankS! I just took the info from WIKI!
February 15th, 2009 at 4:08 am
ohhh that looks delectable..my phirni turned out to be a big flop coz lots of lumps formed..dint try after that day…
Divz thats the trikcy part in Firni. U have to add in vert little amount & stir constantly while doing it:-) Good luck if u try it again.
February 16th, 2009 at 8:37 am
…and you talk about my photos being tempting! hmph!
Your Pictures are always beautiul Priya. I did not like these pictures at all. It does not show the pretty color of the Firni once it settles overnight. But i did not have the patience to take another set of pictures just when we were ready to eat:-)
February 19th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Very nice pictures. really like detail in the steps. Have you tried using any other spices in the pudding?
February 24th, 2009 at 11:53 am
thanks soma for sharing the awesome recipe. Shall definitely try cause i got half and half that needs to be consumed. Am not sure if i would have the patience to peel the almonds – i might just grind it with the skin in a coffee blender…
your web site looks great….
March 11th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
The flavor is delicious, but I guess I didn’t cook it long enough…it’s still milky. My boyfriend’s yiayia couldn’t believe it called for almost a gallon of milk! I’ll be making this again and let it thicken more next time.
Andrea
If you are making for just 2, please reduce the quantity of everything. The amount I gave will make a LOT!! (imagine all that rice powder & a gallon of milk! ) & if u want it quick & don’t bother about diet, use less milk & more half & half. It is much easier & quicker with evaporated milk & half & half… but too much calories go in there .. so i do not make it.
If u need to reduce the quantity of milk, do more reduction before adding the rice..u do not want the rice to be overcooked & get lumped up.
HTH
May 8th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
thanks for the awesome recipe. I finally tried it and it turned out to be delicious. THe only mistake i made was i should have grinded the rice a bit more finely.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
yumm! hopefully I can impress a few people with this! I am not a fan of the regular Indian kheer/or rice puddings..but because the rice is broken and blended with almonds! I am ready for this one! Plus I like cold desserts! Good one!