Kheer Recipe (Indian Rice Pudding)

Kheer is saffron-flavored rice pudding. The difference from the Western version is that the ratio of rice to milk is a lot lower. Only a few handfuls of rice grains are needed. The rice is simmered in a large quantity of milk until the grains burst and become very starchy.

Add a little sweetener and the dish is almost done. The last touch is saffron, which gives that beautiful yellow hut to the rice pudding.

Indian Style Black Eyed Pea Rice (Pulao Recipe)

Feeding a vegetarian crowd isn't as difficult as it may seem. I usually pair a legume with rice, which is the perfect balance for a vegetarian diet. I've been getting fresh black-eyed peas (also known as "cow peas") at the local stand, and instead of serving them as a boring bean salad, I incorporated them in a rice dish, flavored with Indian spices. I've made this dish in the past; it's called "pulao". Our family loves the burnt rice at the bottom of the pot, called "kurchan".

First, I sautéed black-eyed peas in onions, garlic, cider vinegar and red chili powder. They're very firm, so they take slightly longer to cook then the parboiled dried variety. I let them simmer until tender, then finished cooking them with steamed basmati rice and baby spinach.