Vermicelli dessert with dates and pistachios

Name: Vermicelli dessert with dates and pistachios
Yield: Serves 6
Cuisine: India
Ingredients: 600 ml/1 pint/2½ cups full-fat (whole) milk; 50 g/2 oz/¼ cup sugar, or to taste; 30 ml/2 tbsp ghee or unsalted butter; 25 g/1 oz dried vermicelli; 2.5 ml/½ tsp ground nutmeg; 25 g/1 oz/¼ cup chopped pistachio nuts and 2.5 ml/½ tsp cinnamon, to garnish; 50 g/2 oz/½ cup dried ready-to-eat dates, coarsely chopped; 25 g/1 oz/¼ cup pistachio nuts; 2.5 ml/½ tsp ground cinnamon

Preparation info

Serves
6

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

The Complete Indian Regional Cookbook

By Mridula Baljekar

Published 2017

About

This popular dessert, Sheer Khurma, is a contribution from the Muslim community in India. The vermicelli is first sauteed in ghee, then cooked in thickened milk with a hint of spices. Chunks of dates and pistachio nuts are then added, which create a beautiful pattern and add sweetness and flavour.

Ingredients

30 ml/2 tbsp ghee or unsalted butter
25 g/1

Asia
India
Dessert
Gluten-free
Vegetarian

Method

Melt the ghee or butter in a heavy, non-stick pan over a low heat, then add the vermicelli. Cook for 3 minutes, then add the dates and pistachio nuts.
Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes or until the vermicelli is golden brown. Add the milk and sugar to the pan and bring it to the boil.