Some call it shevai, some sevaiya and some even shemai, but whatever you call it, this delicious recipe made with usual, household dessert staples is a simple and uncomplicated dessert. Sevaiya are essentially thin, hand-tossed vermicelli noodles (the mee variety in Malaysian lingo) typically made of refined flour (maida) in Northern India, and rice flour in Southern India.

So, you like what you see, right? So here’s what you need to make this tasty, simple dessert that looks just as impressive as it tastes.
Ingredients for Sevaiya Kheer
- 1/2 a cup broken sevaiya (refined wheat flour noodles)
- 2-3 tbsp ghee (clarified butter)
- 1/2 a cup of white sugar
- 1 pint of normal milk (full fat milk optional)
- A few strands of saffron
- 1 tsp cardamom powder (elaichi)
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg powder (jaiphal)
- Assorted dry fruits such as almonds, raisins, pistachios, cashew, etc.
- Pistachio or almond for garnish

- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cooking time: 30 minutes
- Serves: 6
- Special notes: Substitute sugar with sugar substitutes to make this recipe healthier. You can also make this recipe with jaggery (expect a change in taste, colour and texture) to make the recipe more nutritous. You can make this recipe with milk subsitutes such as soy milk to make it vegan (expect a change in taste, colour and texture).
Step-by-Step Recipe Sevaiya Kheer
- Heat the ghee in a clean pan.

- Add the sevaiya and roast on flame till they turn lightly brown.

- Add a pintful of milk, stir continuously and let the sevaiya cook on low flame till they turn soft.

- As you stir continuously, add the dry fruits, cardomon powder, nutmeg powder and saffron strands, either in proportion or according to your taste.

- Than add the 1/2 cup sugar. I prefer my kheer to be slightly less sweet but you can add more or less sugar depending on your taste preference.

- Cook on a low flame till the sevaiya are cooked (medium thick).

- Garnish with your choice of chopped dry fruits and serve hot or cold.

Enjoy this delicious sevaiya kheer on any occasion, any day, anywhere in the world!