Saturday, August 21, 2010

Nei Payasam - Thiruvonam Special








Onamashamsakal from Adukalavishesham to all our dear readers. Wishing each one of you a very splendid and colorful Onam 2010.  For our Onam special recipes, take a peek into our Kerala Sadya collection.

This time we decided to go a little different with the Nei Payasam, though our wishes for this joyous occasion are as sweet as each spoonful would be. Nei payasam also called the Ambala payasam is the traditional sweet offering made in most Kerala  devi (goddess) temples which is later served to the devotees as prasadam.

Prep Time: 1 - 1 1/2 hrs
Ingredients


*Rice: 1 cup
Jaggery (melted): 2  cups
Ghee: 3/4 cup
Cashew Nuts: Handful
Raisins: Handful
Cardamom powder: 1 teaspoon (optional)

 * We have used sona masoori rice for the payasam.

Wash the rice well. Cook either in a pressure cooker or a rice cooker. Melt the jaggery cubes with a little water until liquified. Strain this for any tiny partciles and slowly pour into the cooked rice and throughly mix. Keep mixing on low flame. Make sure it doesn't get burnt on the bottom. Add most of the ghee, saving 2 tablespoons to fry the raisins and cashew. Keep stirring the rice, jaggery and ghee mix for about 1/2 hour on low heat until everything comes together nicely. Check for the sweetness. Usually this payasam leans more on the sweeter side, so adjust accordingly.


Sprinkle a teaspoon of cardamom powder if you want. Fry the raisins and cashew in the ghee and pour over the payasam. Serve warm.

12 comments:

  1. Wish you a very Happy Onam ...... The Payasam is gorgeous. Lovely Clicks too

    Cheers n Happy Cooking,
    Satrupa
    http://satrupa-foodforthought.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. So this is wat is called Nei-Payasam.....!
    (I used to wonder wat it iz after seeing the movie 'Nandanam') Usually Payasams are in fluid state. But this seems something like a Pudding -
    'ny how looks very rich......!

    ReplyDelete
  3. this is one of my favorites..will try sometime..Happy Onam!

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  4. Happy Onam!! Dishes looks oo inviting, I am drooling here. Love it.

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  5. superb payasam :) Belated Onam wishes :)

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  6. It looks delicious! Very similar to what we call kheer.

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  7. Belated Onam Wishes to you. Nei Payasam looks divine.

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  8. There is no pleasure than eating this sona masoori rice Looks phenomenal. The simmered onions and cashews as fixing makes sona rice fascinating. Love your adaptation a great deal

    ReplyDelete

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