DS13 · Desserts · North-East India

Chak-Hao Kheer (Manipuri Black Rice)

Good sourceVegetarian

Manipur's festive black-rice kheer: aromatic chak-hao simmered in milk until it turns a deep purple, scented with cardamom and bay leaf.

Region
Manipur
Diet
Strictly vegetarian, egg-free
Cook
40 min
Time, as written
Soak 3 h · Cook 40 min
Serves
3 (about 230 ml each)
Difficulty
Easy
Status
Adaptation — milk powder added; sugar reduced
Good for
Festive dessert, served warm or chilled
All recipes

Nutrition

Good source
11 gProtein
250kcal
4 gProtein per 100 kcal
Per servingkcalProteinCarbsFatSat fatFibreSugarsAdded sugarProtein per 100 kcal
As written25011 g35 g8 g4 g<1 g21 g8 g4.0 g

Tier: Good source. Black-rice values use IFCT brown rice as a proxy (chak-hao has no IFCT entry). Values checked against IFCT 2017 on 15 Oct 2026.

Values are estimates calculated from the listed ingredients and quantities (IFCT 2017 and product labels), not laboratory measurements. How the numbers were calculated.

Ingredients

Method

  1. Drain the rice and crush it lightly with your fingers or pulse once in a mixer, so it cooks creamy.

  2. Simmer the rice with 200 ml water and the bay leaf, covered, for 15 minutes until mostly soft.

  3. Add the milk (whisked with milk powder). Simmer uncovered on low for 20–25 minutes, stirring often, until the grains are tender and the kheer is thick and purple.

  4. Add sugar and cardamom; cook 2 minutes. Remove the bay leaf.

  5. Top with cashews. Serve warm or chilled.

Protein optimisation

Where the protein comes from
Milk supplies 6 g per serving, milk powder 2.5 g, black rice 1.5 g, cashews 0.5 g.
Boost
Increase milk powder to 40 g (+2.5 g protein, +25 kcal per serving).

Variations, serving and storage

Regional
Assamese black-rice payas with jaggery in place of sugar.
Substitution
If chak-hao is unavailable, use red matta or brown rice (different colour and flavour).
Storage
2 days refrigerated; loosen with milk.
Food safety
Refrigerate within 2 hours.
Meal prep
Good.

Allergens

Milk, tree nuts (cashew)

Labels: Good source · Soy-free · Whey-free · Gluten-free