Phirni — ground-rice cardamom pudding
Phirni is a North Indian and Pakistani milk pudding — ground rice cooked slowly with milk, sugar, cardamom and saffron until it thickens to a smooth, almost panna-cotta-like set. It is canonically served in small unglazed-clay bowls (shikora) that wick away just enough moisture to firm the surface.
i. Origin & history
Phirni is associated above all with Eid celebrations across North India, Punjab and Pakistan. The dish appears in Mughal-era court records and bears the marks of its Persian inheritance.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 6 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 80 g basmati rice
- 1.2 litres whole milk
- 150 g sugar
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- Large pinch saffron, steeped in 1 tbsp warm milk
- 2 tbsp rose water
- 2 tbsp chopped pistachios
- 2 tbsp slivered almonds
- Silver leaf (optional)
iii. Method
- Soak rice 30 min. Drain. Grind to a coarse paste with 100 ml water.
- Bring remaining milk to a simmer. Whisk in rice paste in a thin stream. Cook on low heat, stirring constantly, 25-30 minutes until thick and creamy.
- Stir in sugar and cardamom. Cook another 5 min. Off heat, add saffron and rose water.
- Pour into small bowls. Chill at least 3 hours. Top with pistachios, almonds and silver leaf.
iv. Tips & common mistakes
- Use the freshest ingredients you can. The recipe relies on them.
- Read the method through first. Several steps must be ready in advance.
- Season patiently. Sweetness and salt are tuned at the end, not the start.
v. Variations
Kesari phirni emphasises saffron. Mango phirni folds in mango purée. Rose phirni emphasises rose water. Bengali firni uses a slightly different rice.
vi. Common questions
What is phirni?
Phirni is ground-rice cardamom pudding, from indian & south asian cuisine. It is canonically served in small unglazed-clay bowls (shikora) that wick away just enough moisture to firm the surface
Where is phirni from?
Phirni is from the indian & south asian dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does phirni keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: 3 days refrigerated.