Aval Kesari | Beaten Rice Pudding

Aval Kesari/Poha Kesari/Beaten Rice Pudding is an easy Indian sweet pudding made using beaten rice flakes. This delicious dessert in ready within minutes.

While I have had Poha made with beaten rice all my life over breakfast, it was not until now that I tasted this pudding made with it called Aval Kesari in Tamil ( a popular language spoken in the South of India). It's a dessert offered as prasadam to lord Krishna during Janmashtami. Why? It's believed that beaten rice/poha was Krishna's favorite food. There is even a short story associated with this food item in mythology during his era which tells us how much he likes it and that he will go to any extent to get it. It's a cute story about his friendship with Sudama. You can read it here.

Janmashtami is a widely celebrated festival across India. It celebrates the birth of lord Krishna. In fact, I enjoy reading all his stories and miracles from ancient mythology. He was a god known to have a sense of humor, mischievous glint in his eyes, charismatic and compassionate approach towards his followers. Since beaten rice is his favorite, it is offered to him as prasad on his birthday. And that is what I did too this year. I noted down the recipe from my MIL and made it.

This pudding can be made within minutes and with just few ingredients. In a pan, add beaten rice and water. Add orange food color and sugar to it and bring it to a boil. Keep stirring and it will begin to thicken. Once it stops sticking to the pan, add ghee and continue to stir it for another minute. Meanwhile chop nuts and keep saffron strands ready. 

Take the pudding off the flame and garnish it with chopped nuts and saffron strands. Lastly drizzle some ghee over it and serve hot or cold. It tastes great either ways. You can prepare this dessert for any festival and share it with your friends and family. Its soft, chewy and sweet to taste. Unless told, you will not be able to guess that this pudding is made using beaten rice/poha. 

Aval Kesari | Beaten Rice Pudding

Aval Kesari/Poha Kesari/Beaten Rice Pudding is an easy Indian sweet pudding made using beaten rice flakes. This delicious dessert in ready within minutes.

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Author: Priya Lakshminarayan

Ingredients 

• 1 cup poha/beaten rice
• 2 cups water
• 1 tsp orange color
• 3/4 cup fine sugar
• 2-3 tbsp chopped mixed nuts
• Few strands of saffron

Instructions

• This pudding can be made within minutes and with just few ingredients. In a pan, add puffed rice and water. Add orange food color and sugar to it and bring it to a boil. Keep stirring and it will begin to thicken. Once the water has evaporated and it stops sticking to the pan, add ghee and continue to stir it for another minute.
• Take the pudding off the flame and garnish it with chopped nuts and saffron strands. Lastly drizzle some ghee over it and serve hot or cold. It tastes great either ways.

Notes

Always remember, whatever quantity of poha you take, double the water content.

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Some more similar recipes that I think you will love are Jhajhariya/Sweetcorn Pudding, Rose Sandesh, Sweet Potato Nei Paniyaram, Chocolate Modak, 2-Ingredient Coconut Macaroons, Oreo Bark and Beetroot Halwa. Hope you have a wonderful festive season and try out these delicious, lip smacking desserts!