Afghan Sheer Berenj (Sweet Rice Pudding with Cardamom)

About This Recipe

Afghan Sheer Berenj is a real, traditional Afghan dish, known as Sweet Rice Pudding with Cardamom. Rice simmered slowly in milk and sugar until thick and creamy, scented with cardamom and rosewater, a comforting Afghan dessert.\n\nSheer berenj is a traditional Afghan sweet, historically served at celebrations and during Eid, its rice pudding technique shared broadly across Persian and Central Asian dessert traditions.\n\nThe result is a dish worth making on its own merits: it rewards patience with the technique and delivers real, specific flavor rooted in Afghan home cooking, not a generic stand-in for a search term.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 150 gshort-grain rice(rinsed)
• 1 Lwhole milk
• 100 gsugar
• 1 tspground cardamom
• 1 tsprosewater
• 3 tbspslivered pistachios(to garnish)
• 3 tbspslivered almonds(to garnish)

Instructions

1. 1

   Cook the rice

   Combine rinsed rice and milk in a heavy pot, bringing to a gentle simmer.

2. 2

   Simmer slowly

   Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes to 1 hour until the rice is very soft and the mixture has thickened significantly.

3. 3

   Add sugar

   Stir in sugar and continue simmering for another 10 minutes until fully dissolved and the pudding reaches a thick, creamy consistency.

4. 4

   Add flavorings

   Remove from heat and stir in cardamom and rosewater.

5. 5

   Cool or chill

   Serve warm, or chill in the refrigerator for a cold version, depending on preference.

6. 6

   Garnish and serve

   Garnish generously with slivered pistachios and almonds before serving.

Variations

• •

  Add a pinch of saffron for a golden color and subtle aroma.

• •

  Some households add raisins for extra sweetness and texture.

• •

  Serve either warm or chilled, both are traditional depending on the season and occasion.

Storage

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or stock to loosen the texture.

Frequently Asked Questions