wellhealthorganic.com Pal Payasam: Paal Payasam, a delightful South Indian dessert, offers a simple yet flavorsome treat with just four basic ingredients. This recipe presents a traditional Tamil-style Rice Payasam renowned for its creamy texture and delectable taste.
Pal Payasam
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes
- Cooking Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Cuisine: South Indian, Tamil Nadu
- Course: Desserts, Sweets
- Diet: Gluten-Free, Vegetarian
- Difficulty Level: Moderate
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons of basmati rice or any long-grain non-sticky rice
- 1 litre of whole milk or full-fat milk
- 4 tablespoons of sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon of ghee (clarified butter)
Also Read: Samak Rice
Instructions:
- Heat ghee in a wide, thick-bottomed pan or kadai over low to medium heat until melted.
- Add basmati rice to the melted ghee.
- Stir the rice grains and sauté for about 30 seconds on low to medium heat until a fragrant aroma arises, ensuring the rice doesn’t brown.
- Pour in pre-boiled milk. The milk can be hot, warm, or refrigerated. Stir well to combine.
- Bring the milk to a boil over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching at the bottom.
- Once the milk boils, simmer until the rice grains are completely cooked and softened. You can cover the pan partially to allow steam to escape.
- If desired, mash the rice grains slightly with a spoon or spatula.
- Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Simmer for an additional 8 to 10 minutes until the payasam thickens as the milk reduces.
- Adjust the consistency according to preference, keeping in mind that the payasam thickens further upon cooling.
- Serve Paal Payasam as it is or garnish with saffron, rose petals, or sliced almonds. Enjoy it hot or cold.
- As a traditional practice, offer the payasam to deities before serving to others.
- Store any leftover payasam in the refrigerator once it reaches room temperature.
Also Read: Navratan Korma
Notes:
- When preparing payasam for deities, avoid tasting or smelling the ingredients and use freshly purchased items.
- Feel free to incorporate your favorite nuts and dry fruits. You can fry them separately in ghee and add them to the payasam after cooking.
- Enhance the flavor with cardamom powder, cloves powder, nutmeg powder, cinnamon powder, saffron strands, rose water, or kewra water.
- Instead of sugar, you can use jaggery. Grate or finely chop the jaggery and add it after the payasam is cooked, stirring until dissolved.
- This recipe can be adjusted to make more or fewer servings as needed.