Maharashtrian Gavachi Kheer/Maharashtrian Whole Wheat Jaggery Kheer

I have been participating in few challenging events going around this virtual blogging world since i started blogging. Some challenges are seriously very close to my heart obviously i cant miss a challenge at any cost. Participating in few challenges brings you wonderful bond among the other like minded bloggers who loves to take challenges. We make friends, at the same time we learn to cook traditional foods. One among the challenges i always love to be a part is  South vs North Challenge an event owned by Divya Pramil, this incredible challenge is to going to take its end coz of no constant participation by the members of this challenge. I loved this challenge very much and learned so many traditional North Indian dishes through this event, seriously its very hard to accept the end of this event. Actually we dont want to give up but Divya have some valuable reason for ending up this event. Yes she is right, this challenge was amazing in earlier stages, there were more members and more participation, almost all of us were fighting to get the first place. But slowly this challenge started losing its charm, but however every happiest moment have an end. This month is going to be the final challenge and obviously i dont want to miss the chance to cook an another traditional dish from North India as the theme of this event is to exchange an Indian recipe between two teams. One team is Southern team (food bloggers  born and brought in South India) and the another one team is Northern team (food bloggers born and brought in North India).Every first of a month, a blogger from each team will challenge a recipe from their origin and the opposite team have to cook the recipe challenged by the other team.This month"s host of North Team Manjula of Desi Fiesta challenged the South team with a traditional Maharashtrian Kheer.

This kheer is prepared with whole wheat berries with jaggery, that makes this kheer very special and completely different from other kheers existing in Indian cuisine. Soaked whole wheat grounded as paste is the prominent ingredient of this kheer. Thank god i had some whole wheat berries at home, actually i bought it for making the authentic wheat halwa at home as my H loves wheat halwa.Coz of time management i couldnt able to make halwa till now. Thanks to Manjula for sharing an interesting traditional kheer, we loved it to the core. This kheer is definitely a keeper, yes a wonderful way to add whole wheats in our desserts. 

A simple tip for quick soaking: Actually you may wonder how i have prepared this kheer with wheat berries this much faster, yes i have a tip to say. This recipe asks of 9-10hours soaking time for wheat berries, you can go for less time of soaking just by following my tip. This tip works wonder even for beans.

Bring boil enough water, take the washed wheat berries in a hot pack vessel,pour the boiling water into the vessel,close it and keep aside for atleast three hours. After three hours, you can see prefectly soaked wheat berries.Very simple and easy tips for quick soaking, get a hotpack and give a try.

1/4cup Wheat berries (soaked)
2tbsp Rice (soaked )
1/4cup Jaggery (grated)
3cups Milk
3nos Cardamoms (crushed)
Few cashew nuts
Ghee for roasting

Grind the soaked wheat berries as bit coarse paste.

Now heat the ghee in a pressure cooker, fry the cashew nuts until they turns brown,keep aside.

Add the grounded wheat paste, fry for few minutes, add the soaked rice, milk and cook everything in medium flame with lid closed for few minutes.

Dont put the whistle,once the wheat berries and rice gets cooked, add the crushed cardamom seeds.

Put off the stove, add in the grated jaggery, stir until the jaggery gets dissolves.

Finally add the cashewnuts, give a stir.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes:

Take care not to add the jaggery while cooking the kheer. Add them once you remove the vessel from the fire.

You can make a thick syrup of jaggery and add it to the kheer as well, add the syrup to the kheer once you remove the vessel from the fire.

Use whole wheat berries for making this kheer.