Sheer Khurma Eid Sawaiyan

Sheer Khorma or Sheer Khurma is a festival vermicelli pudding prepared by Muslims on Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. It is a traditional Muslim festive breakfast, and a dessert for celebrations.

This special dish is served on the morning of Eid day in the family after the Eid prayer as breakfast, and throughout the day to all the visiting guests.

literally “milk with dates” in Urdu

It is very popular throughout South Asia and Central Asia.

Preparation Time: 10 mints | Cooking Time: 1 hour | Serves 6 Person

Ingredients

• 1 ltr whole milk
• 6-7 dry dates
• 3-4  green cardamom (lightly beaten)
• 200 gms (half tin) sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup vermicelli (sevaiyan)
• 2 tbsp ghee or clarified butter
• A pinch of saffron
• 1 cup crushed dry fruits (almonds, pistachio and cashew)

Method

1. Soak dates in warm water for 3-4 hours or until they become soft to cut. Remove seeds and cut the dates into small pieces.
2. Boil the dates in 1 cup of milk, till the milk is reduced completely. The dates will absorb all the milk. These as such also taste very nice…  I keep popping some while making the dish. That why I always soak a little extra!
3. Boil milk in a thick bottomed pan and keep on low flame for about 40 mins until it is thick enough. Keep stirring the milk in between else it will stick to the bottom of the pan. (I always use a non-stick vessel and a wooden spoon)
4. Add condensed milk. This is my addition to the recipe. I like Sheer Khurma to be thick while traditionally it’s not very thick.
5. In a separate pan, add 2 tbsps of ghee, cardamoms and vermicelli. Fry for some time until the vermicelli is light brown (it would take just about a minute).
6. Note: If using roasted vermicelli, you might skip this step, but I still fry for about half a minute because the ghee and cardamom give a flavour to the vermicelli
7. Add the vermicelli to the boiling milk and cook for 10 minutes.
8. Add sugar and cook for 2-3 minutes until the sugar dissolves. (Adjust sugar according to taste. The condensed milk is also sweet so you might want to taste the milk before adding sugar)
9. Add saffron mixed in a tbsp of hot milk to the milk.
10. Add about ¼ cup of dry fruits and half the dates. Cook for 2-3 minutes
    Remove from fire.

Garnish with remaining dry fruits and dates.