4 easy payasam recipes for Onam

'Payasam' or the traditional dessert of Kerala is what completes the magnificent Onam sadya, which treats the palettes with myriad flavours. Though the festivities have changed a lot to suit the modern times, Keralites are not ready to compromise on the great taste and vividness of the Onam platter. It is better to prepare payasam in vessels with thick bottom.

Patience is what you need to nail the consistency of a lip smacking payasam. A delicious payasam must be cooked well and have a thick consistency. If you are adding coconut milk in payasam, make sure that the first extract of the coconut milk does not boil rapidly.

Check out the unique recipes of a few different payasams that could make your Onam feast extra special.

Unakkalari payasam (brown rice)

Ingredients

300 gm brown rice

750 gm jaggery

3 coconuts (first and second extracts of milk)

1 tsp dried ginger powder

½ tsp cardamom powder

50 gm ghee

50 gm cashews

Preparation

Wash the brown rice and cook it in 1 litre of water

Into the cooked brown rice, add the melted jaggery

Add 25 grams ghee and allow it to boil well

Add the second extract of coconut milk and boil

When the payasam begins to thicken up, add the first extract of coconut milk

Heat the rest of the ghee and fry the cashews

Garnish the payasam with dried ginger powder, cardamom powder and fried cashews.

Pineapple payasam

Ingredients

1 cup pineapple (finely diced)

1 ½ cup melted jaggery

2 coconuts (first and second extracts of milk)

50 gm ghee

50 gm cashews

Preparation

Cook the pineapple pieces. Add the melted jaggery and ghee into it

When this boils, add the second extract of coconut milk

After the payasam has thickened up, add the first extract of coconut milk

Garnish the payasam with cashews fried in ghee

Pineapple payasam can be prepared using sugar and cow’s milk as well.

Yam payasam

Ingredients

250 gm yam

½ kg jaggery

2 coconuts (first and second extracts of coconut milk)

½ tsp cardamom powder

½ tsp dried ginger powder

50 gm ghee

Preparation

Wash the yam and cut into small pieces

Cook the yam in 1 litre water by adding some turmeric powder and ghee

Into it add the melted jaggery and boil until it thicken up

Now add the second extract of coconut milk and mix well

Add the first extract of coconut milk

Add the dried ginger powder and cardamom powder

Mix everything well together

You could garnish the payasam with cashews or coconut shards fried in ghee.

Carrot payasam

Ingredients

300 gm shaved carrot

500 gm sugar

2 litres milk

½ tsp cardamom powder

20 gm ghee

Preparation

Roast the shaved carrot in ghee for a while

Add milk and cook the carrot

Add the sugar after the carrots have cooked well and the payasam begins to thicken up

Garnish with cardamom powder

Tip – Do not shave the carrot too long before making the payasam.