Sheer Khurma | Nylon Vermicelli Payasam ~ Ramadan Special

All festivities are incomplete without a sweet dish may that be Diwali, Holi, Baisakhi, Christmas or Eid. Sheer Khurma is a famous kheer made during Eid in Indian and Afghanistan and the literal meaning of this dish is milk with dates. Not only dates but this is rich with many other dry fruits and nuts. The thin nylon vermicelli is the highlight of this kheer. I don't usually find this thin vermicelli here frequently and is available in super markets during Ramzan time. And so now I make it a point to pick one of these nylon vermicelli packets whenever I go shopping during the Ramadan time. Unlike our regular semiya payasam this is rich and the thin vemicelli is so soft which adds to the thickness of the payasam. The milk along with sugar, dates, raisins and chopped nuts are simmered with ghee roasted nylon vermicelli. This kheer can be served hot or cold but I prefer the cold version at room temperature. I know that many of you might be making this for Eid today and enjoying. Check this out if you would like to make at home for a quick pudding and am sure you will love this yummy dessert.

Hope all my friends had a great Eid and could enjoy as much as they could during this lockdown phase. I had planned to post this on Eid but somehow I moved to my native place as the lockdown was relaxed a bit and my internet wasn't working here. Though I could have scheduled the posts but didn't feel very comfortable doing it without informing you all about my absence from here. Better to post than never so thought to post the drafts now. I may be missing for a few more days now since the network here is swinging and finding time to post is another concern, hope you all understand. Stay safe dears!!

Watch the full recipe video below- 

Preparation time ~ 15 minutes
Cooking time ~ 10-12 minutes
Serves ~ 5 small bowls
Author ~ Julie

Ingredients
nylon vermicelli or thin vermicelli 1 cup
milk 1 liter
cardamom 4-5
ghee 2 tbsp
sugar 3/4 cup ( can reduce 2 -3 tbsp if you like it mildly sweet)
cashews 10-12( split in halves or chopped)
almonds 20 sliced
raisins 1.5 tbsp
dates chopped 10
saffron 1 tbsp ( optional)

Method

• Heat a pan and add 1 tbsp ghee. Add the cashews, almonds, dates and raisins. Fry the nuts till golden brown. Then remove on a plate and to the same pan, add remaining ghee 1 tbsp, add the cardamom. Fry and then add the nylon vermicelli. Roast this well and remove on a plate(takes about 3-4 minutes).

• Heat milk in a wide thick bottomed pan. Add in the sugar and bring to a boil. Add in the vermicelli. After two minutes, add the fried dry fruits mix. Boil for 5 minutes and keep stirring until it thickens nicely, vermicelli is cooked too.

• Leave it covered for 10 minutes. Serve warm.

NOTES
* This was moderately sweet payasam, you can alter sweetness as per sweet tooth.
* If you are using saffron, then add saffron to 1 tbsp hot milk. Add this to the pan and mix well.
* Reserve about 2 tbsp fried dry fruits for garnish.
* You can powder the cardamom and add too instead of whole cardamoms.
* Dates are a must in sheer khurma. So, don't miss adding. You may add more nuts like pistachios too. I have added pistachios in my video recipe.