Sheer khurma

Sheer khurma
Place of origin	Greater Iran
Main ingredients	Vermicelli, milk, dates, cashew nuts, cardamom, butter
	Media: Sheer khurma;

Sheer khurma or sheer khorma (Persian: شير خرما, romanized: shîr xormâ "milk and dates")^[1] is a festival vermicelli pudding prepared by Muslims on Eid ul-Fitr^[2]^[3] and Eid al-Adha in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia. It is equivalent to shemai, a Bangladeshi dessert. It is a traditional Muslim festive breakfast,^[a] and a dessert for celebrations. This dish is made from various dry fruits, vermicelli, condensed milk, sugar etc. Depending on the region, cardamom, pistachios, almonds, cloves, saffron, raisins, and rose water are also added.

This special dish is served on the morning of Eid day in the family after the Eid prayer as breakfast, and throughout the day to all the visiting guests. In its original form, it consists of dates mixed with milk^[1] from Iran and dry fruits and nuts from Afghanistan which is where it originated.^[5] It is modified in India by the addition of fried semia and caramelised sugar.^[5]

Ingredients

The main ingredients used in sheer khurma are vermicelli, whole milk, sugar and dates.^[6] Depending on the region, cardamom, pistachios, almonds, cloves, saffron, raisins, and rose water are also added.^[7]

Preparation

Vermicelli are fried in clarified butter.^[8] Then milk (sheer) is added and the vermicelli are allowed to cook further.^[8] As the mixture thickens, sugar and dates are added along with any other dried fruits.^[8] In some areas locals opt to use a higher milk to vermicelli ratio because they prefer a thinner drink like consistency^[9]

Notes

^ "Having bathed and dressed in their newest outfits, they sit down to the traditional breakfast of sheer khurma and milk"^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b Steingass, Francis (24 October 2018). Persian-English Dictionary: Including Arabic Words and Phrases in Persian Literature. Routledge. p. 773. ISBN 978-1-136-85248-0. شیر خرما shīr-khūrma, Dates and milk.
^ Singh, K. (2010). City Improbable: Writings (R/E). Penguin Group. p. 190. ISBN 978-0-14-341532-9. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
^ Goldstein, D.; Mintz, S. (2015). The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets. Oxford University Press. p. pt1124. ISBN 978-0-19-931362-4.
^ Ikramullah, S.S. (1992). Behind the veil: ceremonies customs and colour. Ceremonies, customs and colour. Oxford University Press. p. 120. ISBN 978-0-19-577419-1.
^ ^a ^b Philip, Thangam (1993). Flavours from India. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-81-250-0817-0. The sheer khurma, one of the favourite Bohra sweets, highlights the culinary route taken by the Arabs to the East. This dessert which in its original form consists of dates mixed with milk from Iran and dry fruits and nuts from Afghanistan is modified in India by the addition of fried semia and caramelised sugar.
^ Narain, P. (2000). The Essential Delhi Cookbook. Penguin Books. p. 202. ISBN 978-0-14-029326-5. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
^ CaLDRON Magazine. p. 128. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Eid special recipe: Sheer Khurma". Zee News. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
^ "Sheer Khurma Recipe , How To Make Sheer Korma » Maayeka". Maayeka. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2020.