Sheer Korma (Vermicelli Eid Dessert)

Sheer korma is a traditional dessert of milk, nuts, and vermicelli that is served on the morning of Eid in many households in the Indian subcontinent. It is best served warm, but you can also serve it chilled.

The dates give this dessert a beautiful caramel-like flavor. For many, this sweet, warming, milky dessert—which in our house was usually served in delicate bone china cups—was the first breakfast after 30 days of fasting over Ramadan. I have often wondered if the boiling of dried dates was a way to use up dates that the family had left over from the stock they would have kept for the ritual breaking of the fast with a date during Ramadan. 

You will need to boil the dates the night before you make this. If you cannot find chuwara, look for dried dates that are not plump or glistening. Ideally, you want a date that looks dehydrated. Seviyan is a wheat vermicelli that is usually roasted, ready to use in desserts; look for it in South Asian grocery stores.

This recipe was excerpted from 'Ammu' by Asma Khan. Buy the full book on Amazon. This book was selected as one of the best cookbooks of 2022.