Mahashivratri is one of the most significant Hindu festivals. It falls on March 1 this year.
This festival is celebrated with great devotion. It is important for people to consume the right vrat-friendly food so that they remain healthy and energised despite the fasting. Phool Makhana (or lotus seed) kheer is a favorite prasad that you must try to have while fasting. It is a highly recommended dish that is easy to make and keeps one full for a long time. Below is the process of making the dish:
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Step 1: Boil 500ml of milk in a deep-bottomed pan over medium flame.
Step 2: On a low flame, heat a non-stick pan with 4 tablespoons of ghee in it. Roast 8-10 almonds and cashews and makhana until they turn golden and become crunchy.
Step 3: Now grind the roasted makhana and half of the roasted nuts. (Keep half of the nuts aside). The consistency of the mixture should be powdery.
Step 4: Now, add 130gm sugar to the boiling milk and stir. Following this, add cardamom powder and one pinch of saffron to the mixture and continue to stir nicely.
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Step 5: After the ingredients are mixed well, add the powdered mixture of roasted ingredients to the boiling milk and continue to stir well to ensure there are no lumps and that milk doesn’t stick to the bottom. Scrape the sides of the pan while stirring. Cook for 10-12 minutes to get a soft consistency.
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Step 6: Let the mixture simmer for another 5 minutes and turn off the flame. Garnish it with 5-6 pistachios and the remaining coarsely grounded nuts and enjoy the warm kheer.
This dish can also be refrigerated and can be consumed later.