Chillies in palpayasam? This unique recipe could be your next party trick

You have seen tea made of coconut milk, coffee without coffee powder, banana peels stir fry, blue dosas on Onmanorama Food. You would think we could not surprise you with any more unusual recipes. Well, let us do it one more time. How do you feel about giving a spicy twist to our beloved pal payasam?

Payasam is a popular Kerala dessert loved by millions around the globe. Besides the traditional flavours, you could find unique varieties of payasam made using unusual ingredients. Payasam made using sweet veggies like the pumpkin has its own share of admirers. Unique choices like banana flowers have also become popular in payasam-making in the recent times. Now it is time to take it up a notch – by making it sweet and spicy. The idea is simple, like Kanthari halwas. Throwing in some spicy green chillies to a sweet palpayasam recipe would end up give you a unique blend of flavours. Curious yet? Check out the recipe shared by Femy Andul Salam here.

Ingredients
15 spicy green chillies
2 litres milk
1 cup sugar
½ cup sago
1 tsp cardamom powder
A pinch of salt
40 cashews
30 raisins
4 tbsp ghee

Preparation
Remove the seeds from the green chillies
Cook eight green chillies in boiling water
After it has cooled down, blend the boiled chillies and sugar in a mixer jar
Wash the sago rice and soak for at least five minutes
Boil the soaked sago, 1 tbsp ghee and blended green chillies in milk
When the sago pearls are almost cooked, add sugar, salt and ½ tsp cardamom powder
Meanwhile, roast the rest of the green chilies (finely chopped), cashews and raisins in ghee
When the payasam begins to thicken, add the above ingredients and cardamom powder
Give everything a good mix
Let the payasam rest for at least fifteen minutes to develop the flavours
Even though it is easier to make this payasam, it is important to balance the flavours
The payasam should be sweet with a hint of spiciness.