65gramsIndian or Pakistani vermicelli (⅓ cup), long and thin ones from South Asian grocery store
⅓cupsugar
1teaspoonground cardamom, freshly ground
6-8strands of saffron
¼cupalmonds, blanched, skin removed and slivered
¼cupcashews, blanched and chopped
¼cuppistachios, blanched, skin removed and slivered
2tablespoonsdates, chopped
Instructions
Blanch the whole nuts in water overnight or by boiling them in a saucepan with water for 3-4 minutes on medium heat. Remove the nut skin and chop them or thinly slice them.
Chop the dates into bite-size pieces and break the vermicelli stack into half or smaller.
Take 1 to 2 tablespoons of ghee in a skillet. Heat ghee on medium heat and add slivered nuts and dates. Roast while stirring continuously until nuts start to change color.
Add broken vermicelli to the skillet and continue to roast nuts and vermicelli for 1 to 2 minutes or just until vermicelli becomes slightly brown.
Coarsely grind cardamom seeds and saffron in a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder.
Combine milk, heavy whipping cream, sugar, cardamom, and saffron in a large saucepan. Stir well to combine.
Bring milk mixture to a boil on low-medium heat. Watch the milk and stir occasionally. Turn the heat down to low once you start to see the bubbles at the top, right along the edge. It takes about 5 to 8 minutes.
Transfer ghee roasted nuts and vermicelli to the saucepan with the milk. Cook on low until vermicelli softens. Turn the heat off and set sheer khurma aside to cool down. Garnish with more nuts and edible flowers if desired.
If you are planning to serve hot sheer khurma then continue to cook until the milk reaches your desired consistency.