Dates Kheer
We made Dates Kheer last weekend following a recipe from Sukham Ayu cookbook. The recipe required few ingredients, was very simple to prepare, and tasted divine. The original recipe in the book called for dates and milk. I also added almonds because I love badam taste in milk.
According to Sukham Ayu, the dates have post-digestive effect. They serve as thirst quenchers, body energizers, and also help increase levels of hemoglobin. Their sweet and moist qualities benefit Vata and Pitta. To balance the heaviness of dates for Kapha, use nutmeg and cardamom as in this recipe.
Here is how I made this delicious Ayurvedic dessert with dates, milk and almonds. I hope you try it too.
Diamond of Dates ~ Medjool Dates for Kheer
Dates Kheer
(Recipe adapted from Sukham Ayu. Makes about one and half cups of kheer)8 medjool dates – pitted and chopped finely
8 almonds – powdered to fine
2 cups milk – Whole, Organic variety
1 tablespoon ghee
1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
1/4 teaspoon nutmegPlace a thick-bottomed vessel on stovetop and heat. Add ghee to melt. Add chopped dates and almond powder to the melted ghee. Fry for about five minutes on low heat.
Add milk. On medium heat, simmer, stirring in between, until the milk-dates-almond mixture thickens and reduces in volume from 2 cups to about one to one and half cups. Takes about ten minutes of cook time. Stir the cardamom and nutmeg powders. Turn off the heat. Serve into bowls in small quantity and enjoy. Tastes good warm or cold.
Note:
Dates I added are extremely sweet so I didn’t have to add sugar to the kheer. Add sugar or jaggery if needed as per your taste.
While the milk heats up you need to keep stirring so that the milk doesn’t stick to the bottom – a stir every two minutes or so is fine.© Recipe and Photos Copyright 2009 Indira Singari
Dates Kheer ~ for Sri Rama Navami Neivedyam
I usually soak dates and blanched almonds in hot milk and blend it. This is a nice variation.
Kheer with dates sounds delicious. I need to buy this book..Very interesting.
I heard of this drink from one of my friend too.. They drink this concoction every morning on an empty stomach..
I have got to try this the next time that I am craving something sweet….might as well make something that will do my body good! 🙂
That’s exactly what I thought while making this dessert, Trupti. I was looking for something light and easy for neivedyam, this recipe was Godsend.
-Indira
Sounds good Indira, will have to get the book.
I make a similar one with medjoool dates. Yummy!
Nice recipe Indira. 🙂
Siri
I had this kheer in an Indian restaurant called turmeric. I loved it. Will try this one soon.
Looks so nice and energetic! I should try giving this to my kids. They resist so much to eat dates and this would be a nice variation! Thanks Indira!
lovely kheeer
The kheer looks great. Can date syrup be used instead of chopped dates?
You can do that, but I don’t think the taste will be similar to adding dates.
-Indira
Love the picture,Indira.
I do make in the same way but never added nutmeg to that.
The idea was given by my mom inspired by dr.Mantena Satyanarayana Raju -“Dates are substitute for Sugar.”
I made powder with cashew,almond,walnuts and a Half cup of grated bottle gourd to that. All mix together given a great taste. Gopi and Akshay enjoyed this after their sunday lunch.
Going to add nutmeg next time when i make.
I made vadapappu and paanakam .Yet to post bit lazy now a days .
Thanks for sharing .
Vineela
Happy Sri Rama Navami, Vineela.
Bottle gourd -nut mix sounds interesting. Looking forward to reading about it at your blog.
-Indira
I never tried a dessert with dates.. looks delicious.. i will try next time when i buy dates
I make these too. I soak dates for 2 hours along with 2-3 almonds and cashews and saffron. Blend these together. It tastes yum. Good one Indira:)
Indira, im guessing your sun-sign is Aquarius. ive come to the conclusion after reading your articles for a long time. Tell me if im correct?
Wow! What a delicious kheer! 🙂 I used to soak dates, almonds overnight and add them to my milkshakes in the morning and it was yummy. Making a kheer with those three sounds even more delicious!
Milk shake sounds yum, Kay. No cooking too.:) I should try that one.
-Indira
Congrats for a new horizon. Dates kheer looks oh so delicious!. Nice way to celebrate Ram navami.
Dates Kheer is a nice idea! Looks mouth-watering. 🙂
loves lovey! but i’m more intersted in that gorgeous bowl. where did you get it?!!!
Hello Aarti,
Thanks. The bowls (a set of two) was a gift from lovely food blogger, a dear friend Linda of Out of the Garden. She collects old time rose tinted glassware.
-Indira
wow Kheer with dates looks delish! Thank you for sharing the recipe with us.
Indira,
I tried the dates kheer ( without the nutmeg and with 2% milk ) for Tamil New Year. It was simply delicious. And didn’t feel guilty having kheer for a change.
Belated New Year Greetings Raji. So glad to read that you had celebrated the new year with tasty dates kheer.
-Indira
How many serving sizes is this recipe traditionaly for you?
Hello Audrey,
This recipe would make about 4 servings (small amounts).
-Indira
I got all the ingredients except nutmeg. I hope to buy nutmeg and plan to make it this weekend.
Wow this was lip smackingly delicious and I did not feel heavy as I do when I eat payasams. Thanks for a great recipe!
It came out really well !!! Thanks for the nice recipe and unambiguous instructions.
You have been my inspiration for cooking.
Sudheer
I made this for my son’s birthday party. It came out really good and all the kids enjoyed it. A wonderful and healthy recipe.
Thank you so much.