Sheer Khurmaशीर खुर्मा

Name: Sheer Khurma
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Hyderabadi
Ingredients: 100 g Thin wheat vermicelli (seviyan); 1 litre Full-fat milk; 4-5 tbsp, to taste Sugar; 2 tbsp Ghee; 8-10 Dates (khajoor), pitted and halved; 2 tbsp Raisins; 2 tbsp Cashews; 2 tbsp Pistachios, sliced; 2 tbsp Almonds, sliced; 1 tbsp Chironji (charoli nuts); ½ tsp Cardamom powder; 1 tsp Kewra water; 1 pinch in 2 tbsp Saffron dissolved in warm milk

⏱ Prep 10m🍳 Cook 20m🍽 Serves 6🌿 Vegetarian

Video: Vismai Food (YouTube)

Sheer Khurma translates from Persian as milk with dates, and on Eid morning in Hyderabadi households a pot of this semolina-enriched vermicelli pudding is the first thing made before prayers. Dates, dried figs, and a dozen other dried fruits bob in sweetened milk thickened with thin wheat vermicelli — each family's ratio a closely-guarded recipe. The Nizam's kitchen version carries a splash of kewra and a thin veil of saffron that gilds the surface gold.

📍 Make it in Plano

This recipe is the same everywhere — but where you buy the ingredients and eat the dish is local to you.

Finding Desi spots near Plano…

Ingredients

▪Thin wheat vermicelli (seviyan)100 g
▪Full-fat milk1 litre
▪Sugar4-5 tbsp, to taste
▪Ghee2 tbsp
Dried fruits and nuts
▪Dates (khajoor), pitted and halved8-10
▪Raisins2 tbsp
▪Cashews2 tbsp
▪Pistachios, sliced2 tbsp
▪Almonds, sliced2 tbsp
▪Chironji (charoli nuts)1 tbsp
Aromatics
▪Cardamom powder½ tsp
▪Kewra water1 tsp
▪Saffron dissolved in warm milk1 pinch in 2 tbsp

🌍 Cooking abroad? Substitutions

Seviyan (thin wheat vermicelli): Look for "vermicelli" in Indian grocery stores — use the thinner variety. Angel hair pasta broken into 2 cm pieces is a functional substitute, though slightly heartier.
Chironji (charoli): These small lentil-shaped nuts are specific to the subcontinent. Pine nuts are the closest Western substitute, or simply omit — the dish is still complete with the other dried fruits.

Method

1Heat ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan or kadai. Add dry vermicelli and roast over medium flame, stirring continuously, until it turns uniform golden brown and smells nutty — about 4-5 minutes.
2Add dates, raisins, cashews, almonds, chironji, and pistachios to the roasting vermicelli. Stir together 1 minute so the fruits and nuts absorb the ghee.
3Pour in the milk all at once (stand back — it may sputter). Stir to combine, increase to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Reduce and simmer 10-12 minutes, stirring often, until the vermicelli is fully cooked and the milk has thickened slightly.
4Add sugar and cardamom powder. Stir 2 minutes until the sugar dissolves completely. Taste and adjust sweetness.
5Remove from heat. Stir in kewra water and saffron milk. Serve warm in small cups, or refrigerate and serve cold — both are traditional on Eid morning.

A Desi.Net original recipe · part of our Indian Cuisine library. Confirm details and adjust to taste.