Phirni Brûlée

Phirni Brûlée, creamy cardamom and rose phirni topped with a caramelized sugar crunch. 

What is Phirni?

Phirni also called firni is a classic slow-cooked Indian creamy dessert made with basmati rice, milk, sugar and scented with cardamom powder, saffron, and or rose water. 

Being a timeless dessert prepared during several occasions, people put their own spin on phirni. In the summer people put fruit twists on it and during the winter it’s made with lots of nuts and other dry fruits. 

Sometimes phirni can fall a little flat texture wise for me so I wanted to add an extra crunch, in comes the brûlée part. I absolutely adore Crème Brûlée so a phirni brûlée sounded delightful. 

Phirni Brûlée

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

35 mins

 

Phirni Brûlée, creamy cardamom and rose phirni topped with a caramelized sugar crunch. 

Author: Nisha Vedi Pawar

Serves: 4

Ingredients

For the Phirni:

• ¼ cup basmati rice
• 4 cup whole milk
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon cardamom powder 
• 10-12 saffron strands
• 2 teaspoon rose water

For the Brûlée:

• 4 heat safe, ceramic dishes
• 4 tablespoon sugar

Toppings:

• Slivered pistachios
• Fresh berries

Method

1. Rinse the rice 2-3 times in water until the water runs clear. Drain, and spread on a baking tray and allow the grains to dry completely .
2. In a grinder, pulse the rice until the consistency resembles a rough sand and set aside.
3. Heat milk on medium high in sauce pan and allow it to come to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium the heat and add the ground rice. Stir and add in the sugar.
4. Cook the ground rice in the milk for 10-12 minutes stirring often to ensure no lumps form.
5. Add in the saffron strands and cook for another 10  minutes until the phirni thickens and the rice granules are softened.
6. Turn off the heat and mix in the cardamom powder and rose water.
7. Pour the phirni in serving bowls and cool at room temperature, before chilling in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours.
8. To brûlée: sprinkle one tablespoon of sugar per serving and using a culinary torch, melt the sugar to form a crispy, crunchy sugar coating.
9. Allow it to harden before garnishing with slivered pistachios and fresh berries.

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