Sheer Khurma...classic Muslim dessert

The favorite sweet dish, the traditional sheer khurma, is prepared in almost every Muslim household.Hint of Kewara water and Saffron makes it an out of this world lip smacking dessert. When someone mentions dessert, I always think first about sheer khurma. This is the recipe given to me by my mother-in-law.




1 gallon of whole milk
1 cup sugar
8 dried dates
6-8 whole cardamoms
1\4 cup ghee
7 seeds of cardamom (crushed).
1 cup of vermicelli (savaiya)
1/4 cup chopped pistachios
1/2 cup dried coconut
1/2 cup chopped almond
1/4 cup raisins
1tsp kewera essence, diluted or 1\4 tsp., if concentrated
little saffron for garnish

• Soak 3 dried dates and coconut in water for 1hour, until soft. then thinly slice them.
• In a pot add milk, water, 5 dried dates and cardamoms and simmer on low heat for about 2 hours or until about 3/4 th of the milk is left. Strain milk through a fine sieve. Discard the dates and cardamoms and reserve milk.
• Heat ghee in pan add crushed cardamom seeds, when they pop and splutter add vermicelli and fry for 3-4 minutes. Add pistachios, coconut, almond, raisins and dates and fry for 2 more minutes.
• Add warm milk to it, bring to boil and cook for 5-8 minutes, until cooked through.
• Add sugar and cook until sugar has completely dissolved. Just before removing from heat add kevera essence and garnish with saffron.