Shir Berenj Recipe

Shir Berenj is a creamy and luscious Persian pudding made from rice, sugar, and milk. Brighten up your morning with a bowl of warm Persian rice pudding or serve it chilled as a sweet dessert.

What is Shir Berenj?

Shir Berenj (Persian Rice Pudding) is a type of dessert that is made from milk and rice and is mostly sweetened with sugar or syrup. Persian rice pudding is packed with nutrients and bursting with flavor. Milk (a source of calcium) and rice (rich in B vitamins) are the two main ingredients of Shir Berenj, also cardamom and rose water add a unique flavor and aroma to the dessert. Rice pudding can be served hot or cold.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Easy to make: Shir Berenj is so easy to make. This easy recipe is effortless and so delicious. Serve with your favorite syrup or jam for a heartwarming and perfectly sweet treat.
• Customizable: Persian rice pudding is one of those delicious and nutritious desserts that tastes sweet and can be made in many flavors. The most common ones are classic rice pudding, cinnamon rice pudding chocolate rice pudding, and saffron rice pudding.
  
• Healthy and nutritious: A delicious, healthy, and nutritious dessert that children love can make your work easier. Raisins and nuts can be used to make this dessert more nutritious.
  

Shir Berenj Ingredients

• Rice: The best rice for making Shir Berenj is short-grain white rice. Short-grain rice cooks up soft and sticky and thickens the pudding when cooked.
• Whole milk: Whole milk adds just the right amount of flavor, richness, and creaminess to the pudding.
• Sugar: You can use granulated white sugar or light brown sugar to sweeten Shir Berenj. In the classic Iranian recipe, white sugar is used as a sweetener.
• Rose water: Rose water adds a subtle floral flavor to the pudding.
• Ground cardamom: Ground cardamom gives a sweet spicy aroma and taste to the rice pudding.
• Salt: Add a pinch of salt to balance out the sweetness.

How to Make Shir Berenj

• Rinse rice until the water runs clear.
• Once the rice is rinsed, transfer it to a large bowl or pot. Pour cold water until the rice. Soak rice for at least two hours. Soaking rice shortens cooking time as the grains absorb water. After the soaking time is complete, drain the rice thoroughly.
• In a pot, combine the rice with 2 cups of water and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook rice over low heat until it falls apart. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
• Add in milk and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat, add sugar, and stir until it dissolves. Cook for about 40-45 minutes or until the mixture thickens. Do not cover the pot completely during cooking, to avoid overflow.
• After rose water and ground cardamom. Mix well and cook for another 10 minutes.
•  Ladle warm pudding into cups or small bowls. Top with ground cinnamon, raisin, nuts, or jam.
• Serve warm or chilled.

Expert Tips 

• Rose water adds a mild floral flavor that complements the sweet flavor of rice pudding. Start by adding a small amount of rose water until you get the desired aroma and taste.
• If you are going to serve rice pudding with grape molasses or jam, it is better to reduce the amount of sugar called for in the recipe.
• Swap out 1/2 cup of the milk in the recipe for heavy cream to add richness and creaminess.

FAQs

What Is the Best Rice for Persian Rice Pudding?

The best rice for rice pudding is typically short-grain rice. The high starch content in short-grain rice gives the rice pudding a creamy and thick consistency.

How to Serve Shir Berenj?

You can serve rice pudding warm or chilled. Both taste amazing! In Iran, Shir Berenj is usually served with grape molasses or rose jam.

Can I Reduce or Replace the Sugar?

The classic recipe calls for white granulated sugar but you can experiment with different sweeteners or reduce the amount of sugar. Replace the sugar with honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar to add sweetness or enhance the flavor.

Did you like the Shir Berenj recipe? Try my Persian Halva recipe as well! Leave your comment below and If you make this recipe, be sure to tag your photos #yummynotes 

Looking for More Persian Recipes?

• Masghati Recipe
• Cake Yazdi Recipe
• Shirini Keshmeshi Recipe
• Sholeh Zard Recipe
• Persian Halva Recipe

Shir Berenj Recipe

Serves: 4 Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cooking Time: 90 Minutes 90 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 4.7/5

( 21 voted )

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Ingredients

• 1 cup short grain white rice
• 4 cups whole milk
• 2 cups water
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup rose water (Golab)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Ground cinnamon and nuts for topping

Instructions

Step 1

Rinse rice until the water runs clear. Once the rice is rinsed, transfer it to a large bowl or pot. Pour cold water until submerge the rice. Soak rice for at least two hours. Soaking rice shortens cooking time as the grains absorb water. After the soaking time is complete, drain the rice thoroughly.

Step 2

In a pot, combine the rice with 2 cups of water and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook rice over low heat until it falls apart. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

Step 3

Add in milk and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat, add sugar and stir until it dissolves. Cook for about 40-45 minutes or until the mixture thickens. Do not cover the pot completely during cooking, to avoid overflow.

Step 4

After rose water and ground cardamom. Mix well and cook for another 10 minutes.

Step 5

Ladle warm pudding into cups or small bowls. Top with ground cinnamon, raisin, nuts, or jam. Serve warm or chilled.