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Delicious Oats Kheer also known as Oats Payasam is made with steel-cut oats in the Instant Pot, but it tastes just like kheer. This quick and easy oats kheer is flavored with cardamom, saffron, ghee, and nuts. A perfect way to start your day!
★★★★★
“After seeing Nisha’s post on Insta, I made this oats kheer right away. It’s a perfect bowl of warm hugs in the rainy weather we’ve been having in NJ. So easy and yummy. I sneaked extra nuts in mine. Def recommend it.”
– Payal
I am an Oatmeal Lover and it’s a staple for breakfast. As the seasons change, I love changing the flavors of my oatmeal.
Many of you have DM’d me on Instagram requesting my Instant Pot oatmeal recipe that’s made with steel-cut oats so sharing with you my favorite way to enjoy oatmeal – in kheer form.
More Oats Recipes
Love overnight oats? Then try this quick & easy vegan Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats. Want oatmeal leftovers? Try this Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal or Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal. For a delicious fall muffin, try these Pumpkin Oat Muffins, packed with nutrition. And for those Indian Fusion flavors, try my Thandai Overnight Oats.
What is Oats Kheer?
Kheer also known as Rice Kheer is an Indian rice pudding that’s made with ghee, milk, rice, nuts, and raisins, along with flavors such as cardamom powder, saffron, or rose water.
Kheer is one of the most popular Indian Desserts during the Diwali season so this is the perfect time to share my Oats Kheer or Oats Payasam recipe.
Ingredients
- Steel-Cut Oats – I highly recommend using steel-cut oats because it tastes delicious and I love the texture of it in this recipe. Feel free to use old-fashioned oats if you wish, however do not use quick oats or instant oats as they turn mushy very fast.
- Whole Milk – For this recipe, use whole milk. You’ll need 1/2 cup to cook the oats and another 1/2 cup after the oats are cooked.
Alternatively, reduced-fat 2% milk would be great too. Low-fat 1% and skim milk are great options too, however the texture won’t be as creamy. - Nuts – I love the classics – cashews, almonds, and pistachios. Just make sure you chop the nuts.
- Ghee – You’ll need a 1/2 tablespoon of ghee which adds a rich taste. Feel free to use butter instead, however butter doesn’t have that nutty flavor that ghee has.
- Coconut Sugar – I used 1 tablespoon of coconut sugar, but brown sugar will work too.
- Desi Flavors – A pinch of saffron strands (kesar) and a touch of cardamom powder (or crushed green cardamoms) are all you need for that Desi touch.
- Water – You’ll need some water to cook the oats along with some milk.
*See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.*
Substitutions
- Whole Milk – For a dairy option, you may substitute regular milk for reduced-fat 2% milk, but I would avoid low-fat 1% milk and skim milk.
- Vegan – For a vegan option, use nondairy milk such as unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, or cashew milk. Instead of ghee, use vegan ghee.
- Nuts – If allergic to nuts or don’t want to add them in, skip the nuts.
- Steel-Cut Oats – This recipe is amazing with steel-cut oats, however you can substitute old-fashioned oats and cook for 2 minutes in the Instant Pot and let the pressure naturally release.
- Dry Fruits – If you love raisins, add golden raisins or even dried cranberries.
How to Make Oats Kheer Recipe
1. In an Instant Pot – press SAUTE. Once hot, add ghee. (Image 1)
2. Heat ghee. Once the ghee melts, add steel-cut oats. (Image 2)
3. Saute for a minute or two until toasty and you can smell the nutty aroma of the ghee and oats. (Image 3)
4. Press CANCEL on the Instant Pot. Add water and 1/2 cup of milk at this time. Stir. (Image 4)
5. Add coconut sugar. Stir. (Image 5)
6. Cover and close the Instant Pot. Cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 5 minutes and let the oats naturally release for 10 minutes, then do a manual pressure release. (Image 6)
7. Once done, this is what you should have. (Image 7)
8. Add another 1/2 cup of milk to your oats. (Image 8)
9. Stir and cook for a minute until the milk warms up. (Image 9)
10. Now add cardamom powder, a pinch of saffron (kesar), and your chopped almonds, pistachios, and cashews. (Image 10)
11. Give it another stir. (Image 11)
12. After a minute, the milk will start to bubble. Press CANCEL on the Instant Pot. (Image 12)
13. Cover the pot with a lid for a couple of minutes for the oats to thicken up slightly. (Image 13)
14. Garnish with additional nuts and a few strands of saffron. Enjoy hot! (Image 14)
Expert Tips
✓ Milk – Add 1/2 cup of milk once the oats are done cooking and just heat up for a minute. If you prefer less runny oatmeal, cook the oatmeal longer. Feel free to add more milk for your desired consistency.
✓ Cover Oats Kheer – Once you add the nuts and flavors. Cook for a minute, press CANCEL on the Instant Pot, and cover with a lid. The oats will thicken up slightly.
Serving Suggestions
→ Garnish with additional nuts – almonds, cashew nuts, or pistachios.
→ Enjoy with a side of berries.
Oats Kheer (Oats Payasam with Steel Cut Oats)
EQUIPMENT
INGREDIENTS
Before high pressure
- 1/2 tbsp ghee, solid
- 1/2 cup steel cut oats
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar
After high pressure
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
- pinch of saffron
- 1 tbsp pistachios, chopped
- 1 tbsp cashews, chopped
- 1 tbsp almonds, chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
- In an Instant Pot – press SAUTE. Once hot, add ghee.
- Heat ghee. Once the ghee melts, add steel-cut oats.
- Saute for a minute or two until toasty and you can smell the nutty aroma of the ghee and oats.
- Press CANCEL on the Instant Pot. Add water and ½ cup of milk at this time. Stir.
- Add coconut sugar. Stir.
- Cover and close the Instant Pot. Cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 5 minutes and let the oats naturally release for 10 minutes, then do a manual pressure release.
- Once done, this is what you should have.
- Add another ½ cup of milk to your oats.
- Stir and cook for a minute until the milk warms up.
- Now add cardamom powder, a pinch of saffron (kesar), and your chopped almonds, pistachios, and cashews.
- Give it another stir.
- After a minute, the milk will start to bubble. Press CANCEL on the Instant Pot.
- Cover the pot with a lid for a couple of minutes for the oats to thicken up slightly.
- Garnish with additional nuts and a few strands of saffron. Enjoy hot!
NOTES
- Whole Milk – For a dairy option, you may substitute regular milk for reduced-fat 2% milk, but I would avoid low-fat 1% milk and skim milk.
- Vegan – For a vegan option, use nondairy milk such as unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, or cashew milk. Instead of ghee, use vegan ghee.
- Nuts – If allergic to nuts or don’t want to add them in, skip the nuts.
- Steel-Cut Oats – This recipe is amazing with steel-cut oats, however you can substitute old-fashioned oats and cook for 2 minutes in the Instant Pot and let the pressure naturally release.
- Dry Fruits – If you love raisins, add golden raisins or even dried cranberries.
- Add Milk to Cooked Oats – Add 1/2 cup of milk once the oats are done cooking and just heat up for a minute. If you prefer less runny oatmeal, cook the oatmeal longer. Feel free to add more milk for your desired consistency.
- Cover Oats Kheer – Once you add the nuts and flavors. Cook for a minute, press CANCEL on the Instant Pot, and cover with a lid. The oats will thicken up slightly.
In theory this sounds good, but the flavors fell way short of what I was expecting. You may need to change the amounts of milk, sugar, etc to make it better. This was very flavorless.
HI Amisha – I’m sorry to hear the recipe didn’t suit your taste. I can assure you that all reviews on this site are from real readers who’ve made the recipe and shared their genuine feedback. Everyone’s flavor preferences are different, and small variations in ingredients or seasoning can make a big difference. I used coconut sugar for this recipe, and only 1 tbsp was enough for me. Think of this as a healthier kheer. I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
I have made this a few times. Easy to make and absolutely delicious!
How do you make it without an instapot?
HI Nina,
You would have to cook the oats in water and ghee stovetop. Follow the instructions on the back of the steel cut oats packet. Once cooked, add the milk, nuts, and all. Stir and cook until creamy. Hope that helps.
Just made this and it was delicious! I used quick cut steel oats on the stovetop but tasted just like kheer! Thank you!
HI Smash – So happy to hear that. Yes, this tastes very similar to kheer, I love it too! 🙂
Does this work ok with rolled oats?
It does, but it’ll be more mushy, not a steel cut oats texture. ALso, high pressure for 2 minutes (not 5) and use 2 cups of water (not 3 cups). The rest should be the same. Let me know how it goes.
I tried this recipe. OMG it tastes soooo good. To me it’s taste like mix of kheer and faada ni lapsi but with less efforts. I make it at least three time a week or whenever I crave sweet. Thank you for such and easy yet yummy recipe.
This was DELICIOUS and so easy to make. My kids loved it. I added raisins. Seriously so good. I don’t usually like oatmeal but this might change my mind.
Hi Nisha
How are you ? Made the oats kheer today for breakfast and it turned out so yum and tasty.I used skim milk and organic jaggery since I didn’t hv coconut sugar.It’s definitely once a week on my breakfast list .Thank you for putting up these amazing recipes.
After seeing Nisha’s post on insta, I made this pay kheer right away. It’s a perfect bowl of warm
Hug in the rainy weather we’ve been having in NJ. So healthy, easy and yummy. I sneaked extra nuts in mine. Def recommend it.