Creamy perfectly sweetened 'Rice Kheer' is an Indian rice pudding infused with fragrant saffron and cardamom. In India, Rice pudding, kheer, or payasam is a quintessential dessert that is often made for festivals and celebrations.
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This comforting recipe was developed on one busy evening when I needed a last-minute dessert. I tossed in rice, ghee, sugar, cardamom, and some milk in my Instant Pot, pressed the porridge button, and ran to get the door as the guests arrived for dinner.
An hour later, I realized that the Instant Pot was in the keep warm mode and had depressured. I opened the Instant Pot to see creamy, fluffy rice with the beautiful aroma of saffron and cardamom. I stirred in some more milk and let it sit for a few more hours on warm mode until we were ready to serve the dessert.
We scooped out some warm rice pudding in the bowls. As I put the first spoonful of the pudding in my mouth, it took me back to memory lane. It reminded me of my mom's kheer with cardamom's aroma and the creamy kulfi (milk ice cream) with a hint of nuts and saffron. The dessert was devoured by all and I was left mesmerized by how easy it was to make.
Why You'll Love Instant Pot Kheer
✔️ EASY and handsfree recipe
✔️ Kheer is healthier as the starch from the rice makes the kheer very creamy, so there is no need for any cream
✔️ Great make-ahead dessert
✔️ Authentic taste, creamy and so DELISH!!
Ingredients
- Rice - I love using aromatic basmati rice for this recipe. You can use any starchy white rice
- Ghee - homemade ghee works best
- Milk - I recommend low-fat milk, you can also use whole milk or unsweetened dairy-free milk
- Sugar - Adds perfect sweetness and can be easily adjusted to taste
- Nuts and Saffron - I like to add almonds, cashews, and pistachios. You can add nuts of choice or skip them for a nut-free dessert. Saffron adds a rich aroma and color to the kheer
- Raisins - Add them if you like, make sure to rinse them to remove any impurities
How to Make Instant Pot Rice Kheer
- Sauté rice in ghee
- Add sugar, milk, water, nuts, saffron, coconut & sugar
- Give a quick stir and cook on porridge mode for 20 mins with NPR
- Open the Instant Pot and add more milk to bring the kheer to a consistency you like!
- Add more milk to the kheer and bring it to the consistency you like. Especially when making ahead, you will notice that the kheer gets thick over time.
Tips for Instant Pot Rice Kheer
Although the rice kheer recipe is super easy, here are some tips to keep in mind so the kheer does not curdle when pressure cooking:
- Rinse the rice and then drain all the water out. If using raisins, make sure to rinse and pat dry. Basically, we want to remove any dirt or impurities from ingredients so the milk does not curdle
- Use relatively fresh milk. Stale milk has higher chances of curdling when heated at high temps
- Use low-fat milk! Whole milk is high in protein and the proteins can separate with the high heat of pressure cooking making it look like the milk has curdled.
- Add some water while pressure cooking, this will prevent the milk from browning or burning at the bottom of the pot
- Do not quick release. Milk will splutter all over causing a mess. You want the Instant Pot to naturally release which gradually lowers the temperature of the milk inside
- Ensure the stainless steel pot, lid, and sealing ring are clean. You may want to keep a designated sealing ring for sweets and desserts
- The kheer will continue to thicken as it cools down. If making ahead of time, add more milk and then reheat before serving
- If you like to add cream or full-fat milk for a rich creamier texture, make sure to add it after the pressure cooking cycle is complete
Variations
- Vegan Kheer - Substitute ghee with dairy-free butter and milk with almond milk
- Nut-Free - Allergic to nuts? Skip them or add the ones you can eat as a garnish
- Short on time - skip the sautéing of rice and simply dump all the ingredients and press the porridge button
More EASY Instant Pot Dessert Recipes
Recipe
Instant Pot Rice Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon ghee
- ½ cup white rice basmati or short grain amber mor, Rinsed and drained
- 4 to 5 cups low fat milk divided
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup sugar more or less depending on taste
- 1 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 4 tablespoons nuts almonds, and walnuts coarsely chopped or sliced(optional)
- ½ teaspoon saffron optional
- 2 tablespoons raisins optional, rinsed and pat dried
- 1 tablespoon shredded unsweetened coconut optional
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add ghee and rice. Sauté for 30 seconds.
- Add 3 cups low-fat milk, water, sugar, cardamom powder, nuts, saffron, raisins, coconut, and salt.
- Close Instant Pot lid with the pressure valve to sealing. Press the Porridge button. Allow Natural Pressure Release.
- Open Instant Pot, Mash the rice with the back of a spoon. Add remaining 1 to 2 cups of low-fat milk (depending on the consistency you like). Add more sugar if needed.
- Cook on saute for 2-3 minutes or keep on the warm mode until ready to be served. Serve Warm or Chilled
Video
Notes
- Rinse the rice and then drain all the water out. If using raisins, make sure to rinse and pat dry. Basically, we want to remove any dirt or impurities from ingredients so the milk does not curdle
- Use relatively fresh milk. Stale milk has higher chances of curdling when heated at high temps
- Use low-fat milk! Whole milk is high in protein and the proteins can separate with the high heat of pressure cooking making it look like the milk has curdled.
- Add some water while pressure cooking, this will prevent the milk from browning or burning at the bottom of the pot
- Do not quick release. Milk will splutter all over causing a mess. You want the Instant Pot to naturally release which gradually lowers the temperature of the milk inside
- Ensure the stainless steel pot, lid, and sealing ring are clean. You may want to keep a designated sealing ring for sweets and desserts
- The kheer will continue to thicken as it cools down. If making ahead of time, add more milk and then reheat before serving
- If you like to add cream or full-fat milk for a rich creamier texture, make sure to add it after the pressure cooking cycle is complete
- For the non-dairy version, substitute ghee with vegan butter and milk with almond milk
- Allergic to nuts, simply skip them or add the ones you can eat as a garnish
- When short on time, skip the sautéing of rice and simply dump all the ingredients and press the porridge button
- Want to make it less sweet, stir in sugar to taste after the pressure cooking cycle is completed. You can also use your favorite sweetener
Samir says
Archana, Thank you SOOOO much for this fantastic recipe - really works!! Reminded me of the mouth watering kheer we had in India made lovingly by our moms. I followed the recipe exactly as stated, except that I added the nuts in Step 5 and added cardamom and saffron at the end to retain their flavor. Everyone asked whether we had added condensed milk.
Archana says
You are welcome! I agree, I like to think of it as kulfi kheer.
Amy Hill says
I'm craving something lovely and comforting, and I adore kheer. Do you think the addition of orange blossom water or rose water might go well? I have some in my cupboard I've been dying to use. Also, I believe I'm out of raisins, but have dried apricots. Do you think those would clash?
Archana says
Hi Amy! You can try either orange blossom or rose. And you can totally skip raisins. Enjoy!
Juveria says
Hi! How long does it cook on porridge mode? I've always put in the time suggested in recipes for porridge mode. And if I double the recipe, would I adjust the time?
Archana says
20 mins on low pressure is the preset tome. Works for rice pudding and same time even even you double the recipe.
Chhavi says
Awesome recipe - so simple and yet so sumptuous ! Thanks! I just added 1 extra cup of milk in the pot (4 cups of milk plus 1 cup water as suggested) and did Porridge mode on high for 20 minutes. The taste / texture was perfect ! Thank you so much for this recipe !
Archana says
Thank you for the feedback. This is my go to dessert now.
Shweta says
My husband loves indian desserts and I always found them so tedious to make. This recipe has changed my life!! I have been making it for every festival and special occasions for last 2 years! It’s so easy to make and the kheer comes out amazing- The husband loves it!
Samir Bhatnagar says
What a fantastic recipe - have made it multiple times with consistently amazing results. I did follow the recommendations of adding the nuts and cardamom at the end. Also, I noticed that I did add milk each time. It does help to 'mash' the rice in after cooking. THANK YOU!!
Archana says
So glad you enjoy this recipe! Thank you for the feedback.
Salimeh says
I don’t have ghee at home and was going to make this today. Can I use coconut oil or canola oil instead?
Archana says
Yes! Or butter works too
JKK says
Archana, just got the instant pot after trying many of your recipes. This was my first food in it. Turned out really well. Quick question: if I use full fat milk, how much water to milk ratio should I use so it doesn’t burnt while cooking?
PS - love ALL your recipes. Never cooked anything that didn’t turn out perfect! Thank you for sharing your love of cooking!
Archana says
Thank you for your kind words. I would use half milk and half water.
Lauranne says
I love this recipe, made it using half milk and hlaf coconut milk. The rest all the same. So silky smooth and delicious thank you
Archana says
You are welcome
Deepthi Rao Polsani says
Hi, can I feed this kheer to my baby during annaprasana ceremony.
Archana says
Yes! Its such a yummy recipe and perfect for little ones. You may want to skip the nuts or crush them very finely.
Deepthi Rao Polsani says
Thank you
Umme abdullah says
Made this Kheer today. It was super easy and came out delicious. Thank you for such easy to follow and good recipes
Archana says
Thank you for the feedback
Umme abdullah says
If I am doubling the recipe, should I also double the water? Or 1 cup would be sufficient to prevent the bottom of the pan from burning?
Archana says
1 cup is enough. You can add more later
Amita says
What is the size of insta pot used in the above ? I have a 3 qrt and an new at instapot cooking. Will it work ? TIA
Archana says
Hi Amita! Yes this will work in a 3QT too
Tsippi says
Thanks so much for this great recipe!! I halved the amounts (made 3 servings) and cooked it in my Instant Pot Mini, using unsalted butter instead of ghee and 1% milk. It was perfect. It took about 15 minutes to reach full pressure, then 20 minutes of cooking, then 19 minutes before the pressure button dropped. While still on "keep warm", I added the spices, a bit more milk, very moist prunes chopped to be the size of raisins, and the almonds, which were very thinly sliced. After about two minutes, I put the pot in the fridge until dinner. Outstanding! I will make this often. BTW, if I had had raisins or thicker almonds, I would have added them before cooking, but the prunes and thin almonds would have disintegrated.
Archana says
Thank you for the lovely and detailed feedback.
SLakh says
Just made this and it melts in your mouth! Thanks for another great one!
stephanie g. says
Hi Archana,
Do you need to wash the rice?
Thanks.
Stephanie G.
Toronto, Canada
Archana says
Yes you can ask the rice
Ambika Mulchandani says
Does the milk curdle what cooking this rice kheer in porridge mode on the IP. Any tips to prevent the milk from getting curdled?
Archana says
Milk may curdle if the Instant pot insert is not clean. Make sure to rinse and drain the rice. And the other biggest reason is if the milk is old.
Ambika Mulchandani says
Fool proof recipe! Was so quick and easy. It came out exactly as mentioned and pictured. Absolutely delicious and quick kheer to make. Thanks!
Sejal says
I made this as a special dessert for Diwali - it was a hit with the whole family! So easy and wonderfully delicious….thank you!
Archana says
Thank you!