This dragon fruit kheer is a delicious pastel colored rice pudding with a natural pastel pink color. In addition to that, the mild hint of vanilla and cardamom will make everyone crave for additional serving and is perfect to serve for Spring entertaining. Or for any festive occasion.
This post is sponsored in conjunction with #SpringSweetsWeek. I received product samples from sponsor companies to help in the creation of the week's recipes. All opinions are mine alone.
Why this Dragon Fruit Kheer?
Kheer aka rice pudding is always a comforting dessert in our home. Every season or every occasion is complete only with a serving of rice pudding here. In fact, rice pudding is so easy to make and requires less time to make than any other dessert that requires baking. Moreover, I can vouch that this is a crowd pleaser which is also a make ahead recipe too.
This is an easy and a tasty recipe. Traditional kheer will require longer time as milk is simmered for a long time to thicken/reduce the milk. In today's world, since we face time crunch, we need a recipe that is easy and quick but with no compromise on flavors. Here you go! This is a perfect one! This recipe uses a mixture of milk and half & half making it a breeze to prepare creamy kheer in a shorter duration of time. That's a winner!
Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit, a cactus, has a thick skin with a sweet and crunchy yellow or pink flesh. It is a superfood as it is low in calorie, rich in fiber, antioxidants and phytonnutrients. Eating it more often may give more health benefits.
In this recipe, pink dragonfruit aka pink pitaya is used. This adds a vibrant pink-purple color to the kheer which the rice will absorb on simmering and finally giving a pastel pink color. With its natural color and flavor notes of cardamom and vanilla in the background, this will be the sensational dessert for any occasion which is also super easy to make.
Melissa's Produce Pink pitaya was sweet and crunchy. It also added the best color to this dessert. In addition quality products like Taylor & Colledge Vanilla extract paste and Selefina Spices cardamom powder make entertaining easy. The flavor and aroma are spot on with best products.Have you tried these products?
SpringSweetsWeek Sponsors
Welcome to #SpringSweetsWeek 2024 hosted by Heather from Hezzi-D's Recipe Box! Spring is finally here and the sun is shining and we are celebrating the beginning of spring with plenty of spring sweets and a fun giveaway! This year 17 food bloggers from around the country are sharing over 50 sweet recipes that are perfect for spring. So get ready to enjoy amazing spring treats like cupcakes, ice cream, pies, cakes, and more! Thank you to our #SpringSweetsWeek sponsors that are helping us give away some great prizes. Thank you to Melissa's Produce, Taylor and Colledge, and Selefina Spices for your generosity and support. We have an incredible giveaway with three amazing prizes and would love it if you would take a moment to read about it and the prizes that you can win!
Giveaway
Prize #1: A Tropical and Exotic Fruit Gift Basket from Melissa's Produce.
One winner will enjoy an abundance of fruit with Melissa’s! This stunning assortment is arranged in a woven basket with cellophane wrapping and colorful ribbon. Fruit may include (depending on seasonal availability): Asian Pear, Baby Pineapple, Blood Orange, Cherimoya, Feijoas, Kiwis, Kumquats, Lychees, Mango, Papaya, Passion Fruit, Persimmons, Pomegranate, Rambutans, Specialty Bananas, Starfruit and Tamarillos.
Prize #2: A collection of Selefina Spices.
One winner will enjoy a collection of spices from Selefina Spices including: Cinnasational Spice Blend, crystalized ginger, lemon peel, Matcha food grade powder, Purple sweet potato powder, and Ground Cardamom Seeds. Selefina Spices sells an assortment of spices gathered using dedication and care with which we’ve curated their online tea collection. With our decades of experience sourcing products and establishing global connections their mission is to be able to bring you fresher, higher-quality spices and seasonings at lower prices.
Prize #3: A selection of 3 extract pastes from Taylor and Colledge.
One winner will receive a selection of extract pastes to include almond paste extract, organic vanilla bean paste, and lavender extract paste. In 1897, Taylor & Colledge won its first award for excellence in vanilla. Since then, the Taylor & Colledge commitment for unsurpassed quality has earned its reputation as one of the world’s finest producers of vanilla.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Ingredients
Basmati Rice - Traditionally, Basmati rice is used for many kheer recipes. in South Indian kheer recipes, we use local rice varieties. I highly recommend Basmati rice to use in this recipe, but you can substitute it with any rice that you have on hand. Wild rice or black rice may need longer time to cook and may not be the best option.
Sugar - Sweetens the kheer.
Dragon fruit - The star of the rice pudding! This fruit will provide antioxidants as well as add a vibrant color to the dish.
Vanilla extract paste - Taylor&Colledge Vanilla Extract paste is used here. A little goes a long way in terms of flavor.
Cardamom Powder - I have used Selefina Spices Cardamom powder with top notch aroma and flavor!
Milk and half & half - To cook the rica as well as gives a creamy texture.
Water - To cook rice
Pistachio/almonds - Slices of almonds and pistachio are great for garnishing. They add flavor, texture, and add to the proteins.
Storage
Next, coming to storage, you can store this kheer in the refrigerator for a couple of days. Hence, this is an easy and tasty option when you want to feed a crowd for gettogethers. You can also store leftovers, if any, in the refrigerator too.
More Kheer Recipes
Apparently, you can make kheer with practically anything you have in your cupboards! it is a creamy milk-based sweet porridge that can have rice (Triple Chocolate Paal Payasam, Instant Pot Kheer, Paal Ada Payasam) dried fruits, fresh fruits, candies (White Chocolate Candy Cane Kheer), and even vegetables, like the carrot (Vegan Carrot Almond Rice Kheer), pumpkin (Pumpkin Almond Kheer), or bottle gourd (Bottle Gourd Kheer)variations. Make sure to try the other recipes out and add your own fun flavors too!
More Dragon fruit Recipes
Dragon fruit is the perfect vibrant touch to any recipe! You can add it to a smoothie, a refresher, fruit salads, and any fun desert! Here are some other recipes that I would recommend trying: Dragonfruit Lemonade, Melon Dragonfruit Berry Smoothie, Pink Pitaya Coconut Cooler
Dragonfruit Kheer
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dragon fruit chopped
- ½ cup Sugar
- ¼ tsp T&C Vanilla extract paste
- ⅛ tsp Selefina Spices cardamom powder
- 1¼ cup Water
- ¼ cup Basmati rice
- 1½ cup Milk
- 1½ cup Half and half
- 1-2 tbsp sliced pistachios or almonds
Instructions
- Wash and drain the rice. Add into a heavy bottomed sauce pan followed by three-fourth cup of water, and milk. Gently simmer it for 15-20 minutes until the rice is tender.
- In the meantime, add the chopped dragonfruit to another sauce pot followed by quarter cup sugar and half cup water. Bring it to a simmer and mash with a potato masher. Cook for 4-5 minutes until the fruit is mushy and it releases all the juice.
- Strain the dragonfruit mixture.
- Now, add the half and half to the rice and bring it to a boil.
- Then add the remaining sugar, cardamom powder, and vanilla extract paste. Mix it well.
- Then add the strained dragonfruit mixture and mix.
- Simmer for 2 minutes and remove from the flame.
- Transfer to serving bowls. Garnish with pistachios. Serve hot, warm, or chilled.
More Spring Recipes
Check out delicious dessert recipes with a Spring flair and try them this season when you entertain your families and friends.
We share recipes from #SpringSweetsWeek on Pinterest! Make sure you follow the board to see all the delicious recipes shared this week.
Wendy Klik says
I love that you were able to retain that great color from the dragonfruit.
Jolene says
Wow, that color! My gram made rice pudding but this is on a totally different level!
Lisa says
The color alone is fabulous and the flavors you used to make this rice pudding so not the rice pudding I know! YUM
Cindy says
Love the pink color it's perfect for spring! I'm a big fan of rice pudding!
Karen's Kitchen Stories says
The red dragon fruit adds such a gorgeous color to your kheer!
Hezzi-D says
The color of this is gorgeous and I love the dragon fruit with the cardamom.
Susan Broughton says
I think my favorite recipe for the SpringSweetsWeek recipes is the one on here the Dragon Fruit Kheer. It is tasty and original!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
Pink rice pudding, for the win! Easter table, Barbie party, summer pool party...this is going to win every time!
Christie says
What an elegant twist on a classic recipe. And packed with so much flavor and texture. It's so pretty!
Inger says
WHat a fun dessert and the color is amazing!