Most Diwalis, my parents threw a party, and Mum always made an Indian dessert to end the meal. Kheer was one of her regular choices; it is cooling, light and normally just a small bowl hits the spot. There are a lot of different types of kheers (carrot, mango, orange, beetroot, pumpkin), but rice is the most traditional. We always eat this chilled, so it is made the night before, which is so helpful. But when I was filming, the (non-Indian) director insisted it was his favourite Indian dessert… but that he only ever ate it warm. I’m not sure if this was a British rice pudding/Indian kheer hybrid – or if there are others who eat it warm – but I leave you to decide how to eat yours. If you are serving it warm, you can reduce the amount of sugar to taste (chilled foods need that bit more).