Annam-Kobbari Parvanam (Rice and Coconut Kheer)

Annam parvanam is probably the most common Naivedyam item in South India. I like to add some more flavor and richness to this traditional parvanam by adding some fresh coconut to it. You can use sugar instead of jaggery, but I like using a bit of both. Feel free to experiment with this dessert. I like to serve this cold.

Ingredients

• 0.3333333333333333 cup rice
• 3 cups milk
• 0.5 cup fresh grated coconut
• 0.5 cup white sugar
• 0.25 cup jaggery (palm sugar)
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 tablespoon ghee
• 2 tablespoons cashews
• 2 tablespoons raisins

Steps

1. Place the rice in a bowl and cover with a few inches of cold water; let soak for 1 hour. Drain in a sieve.
2. Bring the milk to a boil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan; stir the rice, coconut, white sugar, jaggery, and cardamom into the milk. Reduce heat to low and cook until the rice is tender and the mixture is thick and creamy, 30 to 45 minutes.
3. Heat the ghee in a small skillet over medium heat. Fry the cashews and raisins in the ghee until the cashews are lightly browned and the raisins plump; stir the mixture into the rice. Eat right away, or better, chill in the refrigerator for a few hours and serve. If the kheer gets too thick, thin it out with some milk.