Cardamom and Rose Kheer with Roasted Rhubarb

So I have signed up to be part of a set of folk who will be selling sweet treats at a dessert market next weekend. I decided to test out a recipe today. Needing something that was easy to portion, tasted good hot or cold, and wanting to stick to an Indian theme, I opted for Kheer (plus, here in Berlin people seem to love a bit of milchreis a.k.a rice pudding). Cardamom and rose seemed like an excellent paring, and I thought a little rhubarb at the bottom would balance out the sweetness of the rice. Sprinkle on some crushed pistachios and you're on to a winner!

This will make 4 decent sized portions

this is only three, though

Ingredients:

1 tsp oil
8-10 cardamom pods, seeds out and ground
50g short grain round rice (risotto type)
750 ml milk
30g sugar
30 ml pouring cream
2 tsp rose water
pistachios, crushed, to decorate 

2 sticks of rhubarb
a sprinkling of sugar

Method:

-take a large pan and pour in the oil. Add the cardamom and fry until fragrant then add in the rice and stir to coat in the oil
-pour in the milk and stir. Add in the sugar - half first then more after tasting. Stir and cook on a low heat until you can't feel the sugar scraping along any more then whack up the heat 
-once the milk has begun to boil, turn it down and gently simmer for 40-50 minutes, stirring every 5, and watching more closely at the end. By this point the milk should have all buy been absorbed and it should be thick and creamy
-stir in the cream and carry on cooking
-meanwhile preheat the oven to gas mark 6, wash and chop the rhubarb in to 4-5cm long pieces and place in an oven proof dish. Sprinkle with a little sugar, cover in foil and roast for 15 minutes
- add the rose water to the kheer, stir and remove from the heat.
- mix the cooked rhubarb together to mingle the colours and spoon in to 4 glasses/bowls. Top this with the kheer and then adorn with lovely crushed pistachios. 
 to be enjoyed hot, warm or cold! 
NB: if having cold, assemble but wait to add the nuts until ready to eat