Pursuit of Hope

Hey Lovely Readers,

It's been a depressing last 2 weeks. With the cases rapidly cascading dangerous levels back home, I can't help feel this constant worry for my family back home. 

And since this blog is my happy place of escape after books, I thought of dispelling the gloomy dark thoughts with happy thoughts of glorious golden mangoes which are very much summer star of the season.

Some years back I had this dilemma; too finish of a box of mangoes🥭, before we left for our Swiss🇨🇭 vacay(ah the good days😌). Despite my best efforts, I still had 3 overripe beauties left. 

My way out turned to be, my first attempt at Mango Phirni. 

I miscalculated the pulp to rice ratio and ended with a large quantity; fikar not, our lovely foodie friends happily accepted it🤗

If you are sharing my boat, give this happy and golden Mango Phirni a try.

RECIPE

Time Taken:

Yield:  12 servings

Method:

1) Soak 1/4 cup of rice for 1 hour. Drain water and air dry on a kitchen towel. If you are in a hurry toss in a baking tray and keep on a warm oven (put off the flame or power). Once dried, grind to a coarse semolina or corn grits consistency. 

2) Prepare a smooth mango pulp. Mine came about 1.5 cups from 3 mangoes. Save a slice of mango chopped in cubes, for the garnish later.

3) Heat 1. 25 litres milk bring to a boil.

4) Lower flame and add the ground rice and cook for a gud 15 mins, stir consistently to avoid clumping rice at bottom and burning. 

5) Add 1cup sugar, the volume of the phirni will go up. Keep cooking and stirring for another 20 mins till sugar is melted.

6) Add mango pulp, 1tsp rose water and a pinch of cardamom pd. Mix well and cook for another 15 mins.

7) When the mixture is thick porridge consistency it is ready. Test the sweetness and adjust if needed. 

8) Cool the phirni to a room temperature. 

9) If you have earthen pots, you can use them to display the traditional phirni serving method. I transferred to glass bowls I had and covered each bowl with cling wrap and let it chill for 3 to 4 hours.

10) Serve Mango Phirni chilled, garnish with cubed mangoes and a few rose petals optional🌹😊

I hope you try and enjoi this recipe. Please stay safe everyone. All my readers from India and especially my hometown, please please stay indoors and take utmost precaution🙏🏼

Cheers!