فرنی Fereni is a soft, creamy, and sweet dessert made with rice flour, milk, sugar, and rosewater, a comforting treat for cold winter days. My mother was born in the western city of Hamadan, Iran, which was known for its Alvand Mountain (kuh-e Alvand), rich history, many tourist attractions, and very cold winters. Hamadan is one of the oldest cities in Iran. After marrying, my mother moved from one of the coldest and most ancient cities in the country to one of the hottest, a newly developing region shaped by the oil industry. She brought with her a love of Baba Taher's poetry, some of Ibn Sina's wisdom about herbal medicines, and Hamadan's cold-weather foods. The dishes meant to warm and comfort us came from my mother's side.
This is yet another wonderful dessert made with rice. Unlike the other rice desserts that are prepared with rice grains, such as
Saffron Rice Pudding (Sholeh Zard) and
Rice Pudding (Shir Berenj), Fereni is made with rice flour. The cooking time may take about 20-30 minutes or until the mixture is well blended, fully cooked, and thickened. Fereni requires constant stirring; otherwise, it can quickly turn lumpy.
Like many other delicious Iranian dishes, fereni doesn't need any garnish to taste wonderful, but making food visually pleasing has always been an important part of Iranian cooking. Of course, this varies from household to household. In our home, my father appreciates a beautifully presented dish just as much as its flavor. My mother, on the other hand, couldn't be bothered with food presentation after raising a bunch of loud and energetic kids (excluding me, of course!) Many times she would bring the pot of stews (ash and abgusht) right from the stove to the table. That may be why I go back and forth between making the food look pretty or simply leaving it on the stove for everyone to help themselves!
Fereni: Persian Rice Flour Dessert
Ingredients
Serves 4
-1/4 cup rice flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 4 cups milk at room temperature
-1 tablespoon rosewater
-1-2 tablespoons of crushed pistachios, slivered almonds, or sesame seeds for garnish
Method- In a heavy-bottomed pot, combine the rice flour, sugar, and 2 cups of milk. Let the mixture soak for 15 minutes.
- Place the pot over medium heat and bring it to a gentle boil, stirring constantly.
- Gradually add the remaining 2 cups of milk while continuing to stir. Reduce the heat to low and cook for about 10-15 minutes, stirring often to prevent lumps.
- Add the rose water and cook for an additional 10 minutes until the mixture thickens.
Pour the fereni into a large bowl or small individual-sized bowls. Garnish with crushed pistachios, slivered almonds, or sesame seeds. Serve with grape molasses or honey.
Fereni can be enjoyed warm, cold, or at room temperature.
Enjoy!
