During major festivals like Diwali, markets are filled with various sweets, but the risk of adulteration remains a constant concern. To stay away from impure market sweets, many people prefer preparing homemade delicacies. If you are bored of making the same traditional sweets every single festive season, trying something fresh is a great idea. Rice pedas serve as a wonderful alternative that does not require buying expensive mawa or a large assortment of dry fruits from the market.
These delicious pedas can easily be prepared using basic kitchen ingredients such as rice, milk, coconut, milk powder, and sugar. The preparation process is quite straightforward, though properly cooking the rice and roasting the mixture to the right consistency is essential for the best texture and taste.
Required Ingredients
Making rice pedas requires a few common ingredients that are readily available in most kitchens. The primary components include rice, milk, sugar, milk powder, desiccated coconut, cardamom powder, saffron, and finely chopped pistachios for garnishing. Combining these simple items yields soft and flavorful pedas right at home.
Step-by-Step Preparation Method
The process begins by washing the rice thoroughly and soaking it in water for a brief period. After draining the water, the rice is transferred into milk and cooked over a low flame. The rice must be cooked until it becomes completely soft. If the milk dries up before the rice is fully cooked, a little more milk can be added as needed.
Once the rice is cooked, it is allowed to cool slightly and then mashed thoroughly to ensure there are no large grains remaining. Next, ghee is heated in a heavy-bottomed pan, and the mashed rice is added to it. The mixture is roasted on a low flame while stirring continuously to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
As the rice mixture begins to thicken, sugar and cardamom powder are added. Once the sugar dissolves completely, dry coconut and milk powder are mixed in. A pinch of saffron is then added, and everything is stirred well. The mixture continues to cook on a low flame until it thickens and starts leaving the sides of the pan.
After the mixture is fully prepared, the heat is turned off, and it is left to cool down slightly. When the mixture is cool enough to handle safely, a little ghee is applied to the palms. Small portions of the mixture are shaped into round balls and gently pressed to form pedas. Finally, they are garnished with chopped pistachios on top.
