Parsi · Indian Cuisine
Santra Ni Kheer
A light Parsi chilled milk dessert with fresh orange segments and dissolved sugar
Among Parsi desserts, which tend toward richness and celebration, santra ni kheer is the exception: restrained and refreshing. Reduced milk, chilled until cold, is combined with fresh orange segments and orange juice sweetened with dissolved sugar. The combination of cold, sweet, concentrated milk and bright citrus is clean and satisfying rather than indulgent. Make it the day before and serve it from the refrigerator. It rewards patience.
At a Glance
Yield
Serves 4
Prep
10 minutes + chilling
Cook
20 minutes
Total
30 minutes + at least 2 hours chilling
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients
- 1 qtfull-fat milk
- ½ cuppowdered sugar
- ¾ lboranges (about 2–3 oranges), segmented, juice reserved
Method
- 1
Reduce the milk. Bring the milk to a boil in a heavy pot. Reduce heat to a low simmer and cook, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin forming, for 18–20 minutes until reduced to approximately half its volume (about 500 ml). The milk should be slightly thickened. Remove from heat and cool completely, then refrigerate until very cold.
- 2
Prepare the oranges (2–3 oranges). Peel and segment the oranges, working over a bowl to catch all the juice. Collect any juice that runs out.
- 3
Sweeten. Dissolve the powdered sugar (100 g) completely in the collected orange juice, stirring until no grains remain.
- 4
Combine. Add the sweetened orange juice and the orange segments to the very cold reduced milk. Stir gently.
- 5
Serve immediately in chilled bowls.
Why This Works
Reducing the milk concentrates its proteins and natural sugars, creating a richer, slightly viscous liquid that carries the orange flavour more effectively than plain milk. The cold temperature is essential. Warm reduced milk with orange juice would taste flat and the citrus would cook against the warmth.
Serving Suggestions
Serve very cold in small bowls or glasses as a dessert after a rich Parsi meal. Garnish with a fine curl of orange zest if desired.
Storage & Reheating
Keeps refrigerated for 1 day. Best eaten the same day once the orange is added.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 282kcal (14%)|Total Carbohydrates: 45.9g (17%)|Protein: 8.7g (17%)|Total Fat: 8.1g (10%)|Saturated Fat: 4.8g (24%)|Cholesterol: 35mg (12%)|Sodium: 110mg (5%)|Dietary Fiber: 1.8g (6%)|Total Sugars: 44.6g
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