It thickens by reduction, not by flour or cornstarch, so the whole job is patience and a wooden spoon: keep the milk at a bare simmer and scrape the bottom constantly for the better part of an hour while it cooks down and the rice falls apart. Walk away and it scorches on the bottom in minutes.
By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026
Prep10 min
Cook50 min
Makes6 servings
CuisineIndian
Cost$$$
VegetarianGluten-free
Contains dairy · tree nuts
Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy.
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for6servings
Basmati rice
A small handful; it swells and breaks down to thicken the milk. Aged basmati holds its perfume.
Sometimes — if the pieces are small and cooked dry, an air fryer can handle it in a single layer; anything saucy or liquid needs a pan. When in doubt, the stovetop or oven is the safe call.
Can you freeze Kheer? — Yes
Yes — cool it, portion into airtight containers, and freeze; thaw in the fridge and reheat.
Can you make Kheer ahead of time? — Yes
Yes — it needs the chill time to set, so making it ahead is the whole point.
Is Kheer gluten-free? — Yes
Yes — nothing in this recipe as written contains gluten. As always, glance at the labels on any packaged items (broth, sauces, chocolate), since brands vary.
Is Kheer vegan? — Vegetarian, not vegan
It’s vegetarian but not vegan as written — it has dairy. Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy.
Community Notes
Cooked it? Changed something that worked? Leave a note for the next person — first-name basis, no account.
Open data. Every maker on this site is published as a free dataset under CC BY 4.0 — use it in anything, commercial or not, as long as you credit 5best2buy. Browse the datasets →