Quick 15-minute vermicelli kheer for Ganesh Chaturthi offering

When Ganpati Bappa arrives home, there is a special excitement in the house. Something sweet has to be made specially for Bappa. In most homes, steamed modaks are made on the first day, while in some homes kheer is made. But making steamed modaks takes up the whole day, with kneading the dough, making the filling and shaping the modaks all taking time. Doing all this after coming back from office is not possible.

If you too want to make something sweet quickly for Bappa, vermicelli kheer is the best option. It is ready in just 5 to 10 minutes and also works well as an offering for Bappa.

To make the kheer, you need finely roasted vermicelli, a bowl of milk, that is, half to one litre, one and a half to two bowls of sugar as per taste, two spoons of pure ghee, half a spoon of cardamom powder, small quantities of cashews, almonds, pistachios, raisins and chironji, and if available at home, two to three drops of saffron essence.

The method is very simple. First, heat milk in a thick-bottomed vessel. As soon as the milk is warm, add sugar to it; the sugar dissolves well in the milk and the milk becomes sweet. Let the milk come to a boil.

While the milk is boiling, take a pan on the other side and add two spoons of ghee to it. As soon as the ghee is hot, add a bowl of finely broken vermicelli to it. Even though the vermicelli is already roasted, roast it again in the ghee until it turns golden, as this gives the kheer a good aroma.

Take the vermicelli out separately and in the same ghee, lightly roast the cashews, almonds, pistachios, raisins and chironji. When raisins are added, they swell up and the taste improves. Now add the ghee-roasted vermicelli and all the dry fruits to the boiling milk. Keep the flame low and let this mixture boil for 2 to 3 minutes. The vermicelli will soften in the milk and the milk will thicken slightly.

Finally, add cardamom powder and two drops of saffron essence to it, and the kheer is ready. This kheer can be eaten hot as well as chilled in the fridge, and it tastes delicious both ways. This is a top recipe for Bappa's offering. Instead of the effort of steamed modaks, try making this kheer, everyone at home will like it.