Recipe- Enjoy The Flavors Of Meetha Paan In This Delectable Paan Kheer

Topped with rose cashew crumble, these make pretty festive dessert.I love playing with the flavors of paan (betel leaves) to incorporate them into desserts.

If you have been around here for a while, you would surely know that!My Paan Coconut Ladoo are always a big hit during the Diwali time.

And since I can’t have enough of paan, I thought of making yet another dessert with the same flavors.This time in the form of kheer! This Paan Kheer is a delicious twist on your regular rice kheer.If you love the flavors of meetha paan, you are sure to love this kheer.

To make the kheer most festive, I topped it with a rose cashew crumble.That not only makes it look prettier, it also adds to the flavor and texture of the kheer.

Ingredients

1/3 cup basmati rice 65 grams
1 teaspoon ghee
4-5 whole green cardamom pods
1 liter whole milk
3 large paan leaves use 2 if you want less strong paan flavor
2 tablespoons gulkand rose petal preserve
1/4 cup + 4 tablespoons whole milk
3 tablespoons sugar or to taste
1-2 tablespoons nuts I used chopped cashews & almonds
1-2 drops mint essence optional
4 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
1 tablespoon rose syrup
2 tablespoons chopped cashews

Ingredients

* Soak 1/3 cup basmati rice for 20 to 30 minutes in enough water. Then drain the water and set aside.

* Heat 1 teaspoon ghee in a heavy bottom pan on medium heat. Then add the soaked and drained rice.
* Saute for a minute or two along with green cardamoms (break them slightly before adding to the pan).

* Add in 1 liter milk and stir. Let it come to a boil on medium high heat.

* In the meanwhile puree paan leaves along with gulkand and 1/4 cup + 4 tablespoons milk (using a blender) . Set it aside.

* Once the milk comes to a boil, lower the heat and cook the kheer for around 25 minutes, stirring often. If you don't stir often, the kheer might burn and stick to the bottom of the pan so don't forget that.

* It will thicken after 25 minutes, now add the prepared paan puree.

* Also add the sugar. Since gulkand is sweet, 3 tablespoons of sugar was good for me here. You can add more or less.

* Stir and simmer the kheer for 7 to 8 more minutes.
* Also add the nuts if using and mint essence. Remove pan from heat.

* To make the rose cashew crumble- in a large bowl, mix together flour with sugar and then add melted butter to it. Mix with your hands to mix it all together.
* Also pre-heat oven to 375 F degrees.

* Then add rose syrup and the cashews. Mix until it resembles crumbs.

* Transfer mixture to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

* Bake at 375 F degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Don't break into small pieces. Once you take out of oven, let it cool and then break into large crumbles.

* To serve, drizzle some rose syrup at the bottom of the bowl or glass then fill the glass with the paan kheer.
* Chill the kheer for few hours.

* Top with the prepared rose cashew crumble before serving. Serve the paan kheer chilled. Enjoy.