Chef Kunal Kapur shares his delicious recipe of samak ki kheer for Navratri: Step-by-step making of gluten-free dessert

It is the third day of Navratri in 2026, and festivities are in full swing. And as every Desi family will confirm, no festival is complete without sweets. If you are unsure which option to choose from, celebrity chef and MasterChef India judge Kunal Kapur is here to help with his signature dish, samak ki kheer.

Kunal Kapur’s samak ki kheer is the perfect festive sweet for those who are searching for gluten-free options. (chefkunalkapur.com)

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Taking to Instagram on March 20, he shared a reel explaining how to make the sweet dish, explaining in the caption, “During the nine days of Navratri, fasting doesn’t mean missing out — it’s about eating light, nourishing, and satvik food that keeps you energised.”

“Samak ki kheer is a perfect example of that balance. Made with barnyard millet, milk, and dry fruits, it’s easy on the stomach, naturally gluten-free, and provides sustained energy through the day. It’s simple, comforting, and a staple in many homes during fasting,” he added.

The recipe below prepares 1 kilogram of kheer, sufficient to serve 4 people.

Ingredients for samak ki kheer:

• Samak ke chawal (barnyard millet) – ¼ cup or 2½ tbsp
• Milk, full-fat – 1 lt
• Almonds – handful
• Cashews – handful
• Pistachio – handful
• Gur / Sugar (jaggery) – ½ cup
• Water – ¼ cup
• Cardamom powder (elaichi powder) – 1 tsp

Method of preparation:

1. For a tasty and healthy vrat ki kheer, heat the milk in a kadhai.
2. While the milk is heating, wash and drain the samak rice (barnyard millet), and chop a handful each of almonds, pistachios, and cashews.
3. Once the milk starts boiling, add the samak rice and let it simmer until the samak ke chawal is tender and cooked.
4. Meanwhile, in a separate pan, melt jaggery in water and bring it to a single boil, after which remove it from the heat and keep aside.
5. Once the samak chawal is cooked and the milk has thickened like a pudding, add the chopped nuts and cardamom powder into it.
6. Mix them, remove from the heat and let the dish cool down completely.
7. When the kheer reaches room temperature, mix in the jaggery syrup, and your perfect vrat ki kheer is ready to enjoy.

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