Delightful Sheer Khurma

Sheer Khurma literally means ‘milk with dates’. It is a dessert prepared with vermicelli, whole milk, sugar, dates as basic ingredients with some other ingredients which depends upon the areas it is made in. Sheer Khurma is a specialty of Herat, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and some areas of Central Asia. It is the most prominent dish of Eid ul Fitr. It is a festival dessert that is usually prepared on Eid ul Fitr, Eid ul Adha and sometimes other family happy gatherings.

It is a special dessert for celebration popular in the Muslim culture. It is prepared and served on the morning of Eid ul Fitr after the Eid prayers. Although many other desserts like Ras Malai, Kheer, Firni etc are served this is the best and most prominent one.

My mother makes the most delicious Sheer Khurma every year; as sweet as her love. It’s almost Eid and I couldn’t do without sharing this classic Eid dessert on the blog this week. The taste of this delicious dessert is made with cooking rich vermicelli pudding made with milk, lots of nuts, dates and sugar. Eid festivities are kind of incomplete until and unless you have Sheer Khurma! I have very fond memories of waiting eagerly for Sheer Khurma during Eid in my childhood. Sawayyan (that’s what vermicelli is called in Urdu) was cooked often in my house. I also prepare it when my kids request me for it now.

History tells us since Saudi Arabia is abound in the harvest of dates, people would break their fast with dates, as we still do today, and cook a milk and date dessert come Eid morning. Hence Sheer Khurma is an Eid-ul-fitr delight in all Muslim homes.

This simple yet delicious dish is versatile as it can be served hot or cold and taste delicious in both too. Dates and Vermicelli being one of the main ingredients (since in those days this milk and date dessert was sweetened with dates alone and not sugar) that enhance this delicacy, are in themselves nutritious and a complete meal, like milk.

Generally fresh ripened dates are used in the making of Sheer Khurma, but many prefer using dry dates also (known as chhouhara).

This dish is made from various dry fruits, vermicelli, thickened milk, sugar etc. Depending on the region, cardamom, pistachios, almonds, cloves, saffron, raisins, and rose water are also added. This special dish is served on the morning of Eid day in the family after the Eid prayer as breakfast, and throughout the day to all the visiting guests. It is very popular throughout the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia. Read up to make the best Sawayyan this festive season.

Sheer Khurma step-by-step

This is the dish who everyone makes on Eid. It makes with the lots of sweet ingredients and delicious taste. Here is a step by step recipe of how to make Sheer Khurma Recipe at home. I hope you will enjoy it.

Take a skillet and add ghee in it.

Add all the nuts and dry fruits (leave a few for garnishing).

Add vermicelli and fry it.

When golden then add boiled milk. Use whole milk. If you use fat-free or 1% milk, the result won’t be the same.

Add green cardamom seeds or powder in it. When boiled then cover the lid on low flame.

After 10 minutes uncover it and then add the sugar in it.

Your delightful Sheer Khurma is ready. Save some fried nuts and then garnish it with them. Saffron is added to it for a unique flavor.

Serve it hot or cold. Enjoy your Eid. Eid Mubarak everyone!