Saffron Breakfast Kheer

Preparation Soak the rice in one bowl and the cashews and almonds in another in cold water for at least 30 minutes but ideally overnight. In the morning, drain the rice and put it into a saucepan with the milk and 2 cups (500 ml) of cold water and bring to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes at a gentle bubble until the rice has puffed up and the liquid is beginning to thicken. Meanwhile, drain the nuts and finely chop them—you can do this in a food processor if you like. Bash the cardamom pods in a mortar with a pestle, spice grinder, or mixing bowl with rolling pin and remove the fragrant seeds, then discard the pods and grind the seeds until you have a powder. After 20 minutes add the nuts, raisins, spices, and honey to the rice and cook for another 15 minutes until thick and creamy, somewhere between rice pudding and porridge. You want to reach the sweet spot where the rice is soft, with very little bite, and the kheer is creamy but not too thick. If it looks like it is thickening too fast, turn the heat down and add a little boiling water from the kettle. Serve spooned into bowls with the lime zest and coconut flakes on top; if you have a sweet tooth, you could add a little extra honey on top. From The Modern Cook's Year: More than 250 Vibrant Vegetarian Recipes to See You Through the Seasons © 2019 by Anna Jones. Reprinted by permission of Abrams Books. Buy the full book from Amazon.

Preparation Soak the rice in one bowl and the cashews and almonds in another in cold water for at least 30 minutes but ideally overnight. In the morning, drain the rice and put it into a saucepan with the milk and 2 cups (500 ml) of cold water and bring to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes at a gentle bubble until the rice has puffed up and the liquid is beginning to thicken. Meanwhile, drain the nuts and finely chop them—you can do this in a food processor if you like. Bash the cardamom pods in a mortar with a pestle, spice grinder, or mixing bowl with rolling pin and remove the fragrant seeds, then discard the pods and grind the seeds until you have a powder. After 20 minutes add the nuts, raisins, spices, and honey to the rice and cook for another 15 minutes until thick and creamy, somewhere between rice pudding and porridge. You want to reach the sweet spot where the rice is soft, with very little bite, and the kheer is creamy but not too thick. If it looks like it is thickening too fast, turn the heat down and add a little boiling water from the kettle. Serve spooned into bowls with the lime zest and coconut flakes on top; if you have a sweet tooth, you could add a little extra honey on top. From The Modern Cook's Year: More than 250 Vibrant Vegetarian Recipes to See You Through the Seasons © 2019 by Anna Jones. Reprinted by permission of Abrams Books. Buy the full book from Amazon.