When you hear the word "rice," your mind might instantly jump to biryani, pulao, or khichdi. But rice isn’t just for savory meals. In Indian kitchens, it plays a starring role in some of the most beloved traditional sweets. From kheer to festive sweet pongal, rice brings warmth and soul to every celebration.
In this blog, we’re celebrating the sweet side of rice with 7 timeless Indian desserts that you can easily make at home. Each recipe is carefully curated to work beautifully with premium-quality Himachal Basmati Rice, known for their long grains and rich aroma.
1. Chawal ki Kheer (Traditional Rice Pudding)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Himanchal Basmati Rice (soaked for 30 mins)
1 liter full-fat milk
1/2 cup sugar
4-5 crushed cardamom pods
A pinch of saffron (optional)
Chopped almonds & cashews
Instructions:
Rinse and soak the rice.
Bring milk to a boil in a heavy-bottomed pan.
Add rice and cook on low, stirring occasionally.
Once the rice is soft and milk thickens, add sugar, cardamom, and saffron.
Garnish with dry fruits. Serve warm or chilled.
Best served with Himachal Basmati Rice for a more authentic, earthy flavor.
2.Phirni( Creamy Ground Rice Dessert)
Ingredients:
1/4 cup soaked Himanchal Basmati Rice, ground coarsely
500 ml milk
1/3 cup sugar
A few drops of rose water
Pistachios for garnish
Instructions:
Heat milk in a pan and bring to a boil.
Stir in the ground rice and cook on low heat.
Keep stirring until thick and creamy.
Add sugar and rose water.
Pour into small clay pots and chill.
Garnish with almond, pistachios and dried rose petals
Perfect dessert for summer evenings.
3. South Indian Paysam
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Himachal Basmati Rice
1/2 cup jaggery
2 cups coconut milk
Ghee, cashews, raisins
Instructions:
Cook rice until soft.
Add jaggery and stir until it melts.
Pour in coconut milk and simmer briefly.
Fry cashews and raisins in ghee, add to the paysam.
Rich, velvety, and made for festivals.
4. Pitha (Stuffed Rice Dumplings)
Ingredients:
1 cup rice flour
1/2 cup jaggery
1/2 cup grated coconut
Instructions:
Make a soft dough with rice flour and warm water.
Prepare a filling by mixing jaggery and coconut.
Stuff, shape, and steam the dumplings.
A must-try from Odisha and Assam's festive tables.
5. Zarda – Sweet Saffron Rice from North India(meethe chawal)
Zarda is a vibrant, traditional Mughlai dessert made with basmati rice, sugar, saffron, and ghee. It’s flavored with cardamom and loaded with dry fruits — rich, festive, and visually stunning.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Himachal Basmati Rice (soaked for 30 mins)
1/3 cup sugar
3 tbsp ghee
6–7 cashews, almonds, raisins
A few saffron strands soaked in 2 tbsp warm milk
3–4 crushed cardamom pods
Optional: yellow food color or turmeric for a golden hue
Instructions:
Boil the rice until 90% cooked. Drain and set aside.
In a pan, heat ghee and fry nuts until golden. Add cardamom.
Add sugar and saffron milk. Let it dissolve slightly.
Gently fold in the rice. Mix well but don’t break the grains.
Cover and cook on low heat for 10–12 minutes until fluffy and fragrant.
Serve hot, garnished with more nuts or edible silver leaf.
Zarda is a royal dessert that turns any occasion into a celebration.
6. Bhapa Doi Over Sweet Sticky Rice
Ingredients:
1 cup cooked sticky or soft basmati rice
1/2 cup condensed milk
1/2 cup thick yogurt
Cardamom
Instructions:
Mix yogurt and condensed milk with cardamom.
Steam this mix in ramekins.
Serve chilled over sweetened rice.
A bengali dish
7. Sweet Pongal (Sakkarai Pongal)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Himachal Basmati Rice
1/4 cup moong dal
1/2 cup jaggery
Ghee, cardamom, cashews
Instructions:
Roast moong dal and cook with rice.
Add melted jaggery.
Finish with ghee, cardamom, and nuts.
Sacred and soul-satisfying.
FAQs
Q. What’s the best rice for sweet dishes like kheer or Pongal?
A: Aromatic long-grain rice like Himachal Basmati Rice is perfect for sweets due to their soft texture and natural fragrance.
Q. Can leftover rice be used for desserts?
A: Yes! Use it in quick paysam, rice pudding, or even in fusion dishes like Bhapa Doi.
Q. Are these rice desserts gluten-free?
A: Absolutely. All these traditional Indian sweets are naturally gluten-free.
Try These at Home & Tag Us!
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