Samvat rice or Vrat chawal as it is also called ( barnyard millets ) makes a good alternative to rice during Ekadashi and other festivals especially during Navratras when one is fasting .

Samvat rice kheer / millet kheer is not only delicious but nutritious too for the fasting days and keeps you full .

A small bowl of this nutritious kheer with some fruits should see you through the long day of fasting and praying .

Ingredients:

1 cup samvat rice / millet rice soaked in water for 15 minutes .

2 cups milk

3/4 cup powdered native Palm jaggery or 5 tbsp of sugar as per the sweetness desired.

A pinch of cardamom powder

A few strands of saffron .

2 tbsp broken cashewnuts toasted

2 tbsp raisins also toasted

1 tbsp ghee.

Method:

Take a pan , add little water and cook the samvat rice till soft and almost mushy. Add milk and stir to keep the rice from sticking to the bottom of the vessel.

Add saffron soaked in milk to the cooking mixture . Add the toasted cashewnuts and raisins .

Add the pinch of cardamom powder.

Lastly add the sugar or jaggery and stir well again . Let the kheer thicken and then remove .

Offer as Prasad / neivediyam .

Serve warm or chilled .