Step by step recipe of bohra karma (kalamra) with photos of each step.
One signature dessert of Dawoodi Bohra Cuisine is Karma (also called kalamra). Basically, it is like kheer but with sour yogurt, it has an exotic flavor. A must try. It is delicious on its own when served plain without garnishing. But when accompanied with an array of bright garnishing like sliced almond, pistachio, cashew, soaked raisin, pomegranate arils, it’s a treat; a complete meal in itself.
The tradition
Kalamra is made in every bohri home in the Islamic month of Rabi ul Awwal to celebrate the coming of Hazrat Mohammad Mustafa (S.A.W) to the world. This day is called ‘Milad Un Nabi’ meaning birth of prophet. So the month of Rabi ul Awwal is auspicious and of celebration. As, today is 12th Rabi ul awaal, I’m particularly very happy writing this post. Do make this dessert which has very simple and easily available ingredients. And serve it chilled.
My non-Muslim foodies can enjoy it just like kheer puri; focus on the taste, forget the tradition.
Check other Bohra recipes like Bohri Biryani, Qeema ki Khichri, Lagan ni Seekh, Qeema Cutlets, Lasanyo , Dhudhiyaro (bottle gourd pudding), bajra roti , Khurdi Soup.
Variations:
This dish has endless variations. See, I don’t want to give you just my recipe. I wish to give you all possible choices. So you can create your own version with ingredients that are easily available to you. Remember, the more yogurt you add, the more sugar will be added to balance tartness. And kalamra is basically a merry blend of boiled rice, yogurt and sugar. You need to add one agent to add richness. It could be milk powder, khoya, cream or sweetened condensed milk or lots of milk. ( I personally don’t like condensed milk as it gives taste of caramelized sugar.)
How to make Bohra Kalamra or Karma Recipe
Bohra kalamro (Rice and yogurt pudding)
Ingredients
- 200 gram or 1 cup basmati rice, - soaked for two hours
- 3 cups water
- 750 ml or 3 cups milk
- ½ cup milk powder, - optional
- 275 gm or 1 ¼ cup sugar or to taste
- 500 ml or 2 ½ cups yogurt
Garnishing (all garnishing is optional)
- 150 gram Khoya - (mava)
- ½ cup Pomegranate seed
- ½ cup mixed nuts - (almond, pistachio, cashew)
- ¼ cup raisins, - soaked
- few rose petals, - washed
Instructions
- Wash rice and soak in 2 cups water for two hours in a thick bottomed skillet. Or overnight in fridge.
- Boil rice for 10 minutes in soaked water until cooked, all water will dry. Then, add 1 more cup water , cover and cook on slow flame for another 10 minutes until rice are soft and mushy. (Rice grain should mesh fully upon pressing. So add more or less water as required.)
- Add milk, sugar, milk powder and blend the rice with immersion blender. Do not make a smooth paste, just blend here and there so we have semi blended mixture.
- Cook for few minutes until thick and then let it cool completely.
- Meanwhile, blanch almond and slice them. Also chopped other nuts.
- Now mix whipped yogurt to rice-milk mixture.( Rice should be cooled completely or yogurt will release water. )
- Add half raisin and khoya in the karma and save rest for garnishing.
- Garnish with nuts, khoya, raisin, pomegranate and rose petals.
Notes
Step by step recipe of bohra karma (kalamra)
Soak rice at least two hours ahead or overnight.
Cook rice after soaking in same water, until done and water dries.
I am adding more water and cooking further for 10 minutes on low flame so rice gets very soft and mushy.
Cover the pot.
So this is a key step and you can see rice grain can be mashed easily by pressing.
Add sugar and milk. Cook on medium flame with stirring.
Add milk powder if using. Cook for 5 minutes. (You add can more milk and cook a little longer to skip milk powder) ..
Then blend with immersion blender. Just blend a little as we want granular rice texture. Do not make a smooth paste. (If using jug blender than blend just ½ rice and milk mixture. And use potato masher for more blending)
So,now it is thickened. Let the rice – milk mixture cool completely before adding yogurt. (Yogurt can release water upon heating and kalamro will turn watery if you add yogurt in hot rice.)
Now, it is on room temperature and further thickened.
Add whipped yogurt.
Mix well and add half of khoya and soaked raisins. ( Khoya is optional as well) If kalamro is too thick you can thin it by adding little milk. Garnish with pomegranates, raisins, khoya and nuts. Serve chilled.
Enjoy! Please leave coments! 😊
S Zakirhussain says
My mom made it in a very simple way. she would mash hot, hot rice with sugar. cool it a bit and add all yogurt or half yogurt and half cream. garnish with raisins and poppy seeds and pomegranate seeds when in season
Simply delicious.
Anonymous says
My mom used to make it in a very simple way. She would mash hot rice along with sugar, and when it was slightly cooled down she would mix in half cream half yogurt or just yogurt.
Garnished it with raisins and poppy seeds and pomegranate seeds when in season.
imple and delicious.
Recipe 52 says
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I’ll give this a go. Seems easy and quick.
burhanudin daudali says
Love your recipe, so simple and easy to follow, even a man can do it , now I just need to scale it for 16 thaals on milad un nabi
Recipe 52 says
Thank for the kind words Burhanuddin. 😊 Good Luck! 16 thaal Mashallah, lots of blessings are coming your way.
Umm-e-Aimen Taaha says
Your recipe is super dooper Hit…. love it.
Recipe 52 says
Thank a lot dear, you are always a motivation. 😊
Asma says
Looks v tempting… definitely trying. Do we need to cook after yogurt addition?
Mariam Sodawater says
Thankd dear. No cooking after adding! In fact, make sure rice-milk mixture is cooled before you add dahi. (Dahi releases water upon heating.)