Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Six Indian Rice Desserts Earn Places Among World's Best
Six Indian rice desserts were included in TasteAtlas’s list of the world’s top 32 puddings.
Phirni ranked third, while Kheer ranked seventh.
Other featured dishes were Sakkarai Pongal, Pongal, Ven Pongal, and Doodhpak.
Chefs suggested using ingredients such as millets, black rice, dates, and jaggery.
These ingredients can add fiber, flavor, or nutrients to the recipes.
Some versions use coconut milk, almond milk, or coconut oil instead of richer dairy ingredients.
Spices such as cardamom, ginger, cumin, and saffron keep the desserts flavorful.
The recipes are meant to make familiar festive foods lighter without losing their traditional character.
TasteAtlas ranked six Indian rice-based desserts among its global Top 32, including Phirni at No. 3 and Kheer at No. 7.
The featured desserts are Phirni, Kheer, Sakkarai Pongal, Pongal, Ven Pongal, and Gujarati Doodhpak.
Suggested healthier adaptations replace or supplement polished rice and refined sugar with millets, black rice, dates, jaggery, or coconut milk.
The recipes also recommend lower-fat or plant-based ingredients, including almond milk, low-fat milk, coconut oil, and vegan butter.
Chefs from across India shared preparation methods while retaining traditional spices, nuts, textures, and regional flavors.
- Who
- Chefs from across India, including Rohit Dubey, Suresh, Pankaj Singh, Ravi Partani, Madhusudhan Marupilli, and Amit Rohilla, shared adaptations.
- What
- Six Indian rice-based desserts were ranked by TasteAtlas and presented with lighter, more health-conscious recipe variations.
- When
- The recipes were presented for the festive season; the articles do not provide a specific publication date.
- Where
- The dishes come from Indian regions including North India, South India, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Goa, and Hyderabad.
- Why
- The adaptations aim to reduce reliance on refined sugar, polished rice, heavy dairy, or ghee while preserving traditional flavors and textures.
- TasteAtlas ranking
- Six Indian rice puddings appeared in TasteAtlas’s Top 32 globally.
- Highest-ranked dish
- Phirni was ranked No. 3.
- Second-ranked Indian dish
- Kheer, also called Payasam in South India, was ranked No. 7.
- Other listed ranks
- Sakkarai Pongal ranked No. 15, Pongal No. 19, Doodhpak No. 24, and Ven Pongal No. 26.
- Millet alternatives
- The recipes feature barnyard millet in Jhingore ki Phirni and foxtail millet in Thinai Payasam.
- Natural sweeteners
- Several recipes use jaggery, dates, or date paste instead of refined sugar.
- Plant-based options
- Ven Pongal can be made with coconut oil or vegan butter, while Doodhpak can use almond milk.