Beetroot Phirni
In indian culture we have lots of Festivals, dedicated to Gods like Ganpati Utsav, or dedicated to relations like Rakhi which is a day to celebrate the sibling bond. In fact we have a special festival to celebrate each relation of our life.
And one such festival is "Karwa Chauth". Karwa Chauth is a festival where a Husband and Wife's relation is celebrated, where in wife keeps a fast for full day without eating, not even drinking a drop of water to pray for her husband's longevity.
Now, for those who are not familiar about this festival. It is observed in northern part of India. This fast is observed by married ladies from sunrise to moonrise for the safety and longevity of their husbands. Yes, you have read it right-we are not supposed to eat after sunrise until moon rise, not even a nibble. Women get decked up by wearing their finest clothes, jewellery, bangles and all the accessories.
Having said that I don't believe that for celebrating love and togetherness you need a separeatre day marked in your calender but still there are few festivals which I love to celebrate with full zeal, pomp and show. Karwa chauth being one of them. I also love getting decked up for this festival. My dear hubby also keep fast so this special day becomes all the more special for me!!
I love making my family's favorite dishes to celebrate this special day. At the same time don't want to slog in the kitchen for the whole day ;) That's why I always create a menu which looks royal and regal but is easy and quick to prepare.
And when it comes to the dessert (read my favorite part of the whole menu) I always look forward to making something new and innovative to add in the festivities.
This year I am going to make this Beetroot Phirni which not only is rich in taste and flavor but the color also goes so well with the festival of love, Red.
Red, the color of blood and fire, is often associated with love, passion, desire, determination, energy, heat, longing, lust, sexuality, sensitivity, romance, joy, strength, leadership, courage, vigor, willpower, rage, anger, danger, malice, wrath, stress, action, vibrance, radiance, and determination.
The color red has played an instrumental role in Hindu customs and beliefs, perhaps the most ceremonious one being in the life of a married woman. A girl’s arrival into her role as the married woman is symbolized by the almost red henna on her hands and is sealed with the pinch of red powder sindoor on her head and red vermillion dot or bindi on her forehead.
I hope you all will like the twist given by me to the scrumptious Phirni. My family just loved it.
Let's see how to make this divine dessert by having a look at the ingredient list-
INGREDIENTS:
Milk- 1 liter (preferably full fat)
Rice- 1/4th cup
Sugar- 1 cup
Beetroot- 1
Green Cardamom powder- 1 teaspoon
Rose water- 1 teaspoon
Red food color- 1/4th teaspoon (I have used Wilton Christmas Red Color) (optional)
To garnish- Slivers of Cashews, Pistas, Almonds and few dried Rose petals
DIRECTIONS:We will start by rinsing rice 3-4 times and then soaking the rice for 30 minutes.
After that drain the water completely and grind it to a coarse paste. Dilute the paste with 1/4 cup of water and keep it ready.
Peal and wash the beetroot and cut into 5-6 pieces.
Boil it in to pressure cooker with little water for 2 whistles.
Let it cool. Grind it and make a puree.
In a separate pan, add beetroot puree and let it cook it for 5-6 minutes at medium heat.
Cook till all the moisture dries.
Meanwhile in a heavy-bottomed pan boil the milk.
Once the milk starts boiling, reduce the flame to low and add the ground rice paste.
Cook stirring continuously on low or medium flame until the milk thickens like a porridge.
And rice are fully cooked.
Add cooked beetroot puree, sugar and cardamom powder and cook for few more minutes until everything gets blended well.
Switch off the flame.
Add rose water and mix well.
Add food color too. I have added food color to give it a more vibrant and brighter look. However, you can skip adding color.
Allow it to cool.
Serve in individual bowls. If you have small earthenware bowls, your phirni will look all the more delectable in them.
Garnish with slivered nuts.
You can refrigerate it for an hour before serving.
Enjoy!!!!
Happy fasting & Happy Feasting!!
This recipe of mine is going to my Healthy wellthy group where we blog hop members are celebrating karwa chauth by making a red colour dish which goes so well this festival of love.
Recipe Card
Beetroot Phirni
A very scrumptious Indian Dessert Phirni with addition of beetroot.
INGREDIENTS:
Milk- 1 liter (preferably full fat)
Rice- 1/4th cup
Sugar- 1 cup
Beetroot- 1
Green Cardamom powder- 1 teaspoon
Rose water- 1 teaspoon
Red food color- 1/4th teaspoon (I have used Wilton Christmas Red Color) (optional)
To garnish- Slivers of Cashews, Pistas, Almonds and few dried Rose petals
DIRECTIONS:We will start by rinsing rice 3-4 times and then soaking the rice for 30 minutes.
After that drain the water completely and grind it to a coarse paste. Dilute the paste with 1/4 cup of water and keep it ready.
Peal and wash the beetroot and cut into 5-6 pieces.
Boil it in to pressure cooker with little water for 2 whistles.
Let it cool. Grind it and make a puree.
In a separate pan, add beetroot puree and let it cook it for 5-6 minutes at medium heat.
Cook till all the moisture dries.
Meanwhile in a heavy-bottomed pan boil the milk .
Once the milk starts boiling, reduce the flame to low and add the ground rice paste.
Cook stirring continuously on low or medium flame until the milk thickens like a porridge.
And rice are fully cooked.
Add cooked beetroot puree, sugar and cardamom powder and cook for few more minutes until everything gets blended well.
Switch off the flame.
Add rose water and mix well.
Add food color too. I have added food color to give it a more vibrant and brighter look. However, you can skip adding color.
Allow it to cool.
Serve in individual bowls. If you have small earthenware bowls, your phirni will look all the more delectable in them.
Garnish with slivered nuts.
You can refrigerate it for an hour before serving.
Enjoy!!!!
Happy fasting & Happy Feasting!!