Badam Milk

Badam Kheer.

Badam kheer is one of the most famous drinks in India. Kheer is anything made of milk. Soak almonds or badam in water and peel off the skin. These almonds are then ground into fine paste and added to the milk. The milk with the almond paste is boiled for sometime and sweetened. Garnish with chopped nuts or rose petals.
Makes: 3 Cups of Almond Milk

Ingredients:

Milk 4 Cups
Almonds 15 – 20
Green Cardamom 1
Almond Essence 2 – 4 drops
Saffron 4 – 8 Strands
Pistachios 4
Sugar 1/2 Cup or more

Method of preparation:

Lightly bruise the green cardamom and remove all the seeds.
Crush all the green cardamom seeds into fine powder.
Finely chop pistachios and slice almonds for garnish.
Soak almonds in warm water for sometime and peel off the skin.
Grind the peeled almonds into smooth paste adding enough water.

Bring milk to boil in a heavy sauce pot till the milk reduces by little more than quarter the original quantity.
Add the saffron, crushed cardamom seeds, ground almond paste and boil for 10 more minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in almond essence and sugar till the sugar dissolves completely.
Chill the badam milk for half an hour to an hour, garnish with chopped nuts and serve.
Notes: Make sure to grind the almonds to fine paste.

Suggestions: If almond milk is too thick, stir in half a cup of skimmed milk.
Variations: Add rose petals, orange color, sliced almonds, small piece of camphor at the end for a variation. Some like to soak almonds in warm milk rather than water.
Other Names: Badam Kheer, Indian Almond Milk.