Brown Rice and banana kheer

A healthier alternative to the regular kheer. The bananas add their own sweetness and reduce the quantity of sugar required. Kheer tastes best cooked in full fat milk but then this would not be a healthier version ;) Use regular or toned milk for a lighter version.

Ingredients (serves 6-8 )

1 cup brown rice
2.5 cups water
1 cup light brown sugar
2 ripe bananas, mashed finely
1/2 cup grated coconut
1 teaspoon elaichi powder
1 litre milk
almond/pistachios , to decorate

1. Soak the rice for ten minutes. Drain the water. In a cooker add the 2.5 cups water and the soaked rice. Place on high flame for on whistle. Reduce the flame to sim for 7-8 minutes. Turn off the gas,open the cooker when the steam is released
2. In a heavy bottomed pan, bring the milk to a boil. Add the cooked rice, mashed bananas and let it boil for two minutes. Then reduce the flame to minimum and let the kheer cook for atleast twenty minutes, the longer the better as the milk then gets thicker like rabdi. Cook till desired consistency
3. Add the sugar, coconut and elaichi and cook for another five minutes. The kheer should be thick and creamy.
4. Serve hot or cold as desired, garnished with grated almonds or pistachios