Paruppu Payasam

My first  lengthy post after an year:-)

Time is moving is fast. It looks like I have just started my blogging journey but its an year now:-) After taking a break from IT industry for one year I always wanted to do something during my free time but kept passing my time with food network, browsing, chatting, cooking and of course eating. Things changed after my son was born. Though I became busy with him, I missed doing something for myself and that’s when hubby suggested to do blogging. My blogging journey started when my son was 6 months old. Being a lazy person, initially when I started writing I thought it won’t continue for a longtime, but continuous support from my close ones kept me motivated:-)

I am not a great cook, nor a great photographer, nor a great writer but my lovely reader and dear blog friends taught me those are not absolutely essential.

Thank u all for visiting, reading and commenting in my space.

Its traditionallymodernfood.com from now on 🙂 changing to .com was a big discussion for quiet sometime in our home. Ever since I started blogging hubby was insisting to change it but I kept postponing. At one stage he convinced me and I discussed about this with some of my good friends but somehow I felt will do it later. Today I got a pleasant blog Anniversary SPL gift from my Hubby 🙂 . Evening my hubby pinged me my blog URL in WhatsApp I was surprised to see .com instead of .wordpress.com. Have to work on importing the contents. May be when I do my next post it should be ready 🙂

Paruppu Payasam

Paruppu payasam is one of the most common payasam prepared during many festivals. The blend of protein rich lentils with jaggery (iron) and calcium (milk) is perfect for kids and Adults.

For the past couple of days I was in a dilemma thinking what to post for my blog anniversary. When I was browsing my pictures though Muffin, cake, cookie, creame brulee, burfi and laddu, this pulled my attention, I chose Paruppu Payasam as this my special favorite even before I tried/tasted any other desserts and sweet

Checkout my other payasam,

• Arisi Thengai Payasam
• Carrot Almond Paysam
• Rice Kheer (Paal Payasam)
• Macaroni Payasam

Ingredients

Moong dal – 1/3 cup

Channa dal  – 2 tbsp

Milk – 2  cup

Water- 1 cup +3/4 cup

Jaggery – 3/4 cup

Grated coconut – 1/4 cup

Cardamom powder – 1/8 tsp

Turmeric Powder – pinch

Salt -pinch

Butter/ Ghee – 1 tsp

Cashew & Raisin –  2 tsp each

Method:

• Soak jaggery in  1 cup of luke warm water for 20 minutes (Time depends on the size of the cut jaggery). Strain to remove impurities
• Soak both the dals in luke warm water for 20 minutes
• Heat a tsp of ghee and saute cashew nuts till they are golden brown; switch off and add raisins. In the same pan dry roast both the soaked dals separately for a minute
• Pressure cook the dal with 3/4 cup of water for 2-3 whistles. Once the pressure subsides, open the cooker and mix the dal once

• In  heavy bottomed pan add the jaggery syrup and cardamom powder and bring it boil. Add the cooked dal and continue cooking for 3-5minutes
• Add grated coconut and boiled milk. Cook for 2 minutes and switch off. Garnish with cashew and raisin,serve hot/ cold

My Notes:

• Turmeric powder is optional,I added to give yellow color to the Payasam
• Adjust milk according to the desired consistency
• Dal can be sauted for 2-3 minutes and cooked
• Edible camphor and saffron can be added for extra flavour

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Macaroni Payasam (Kheer)

Both my husband and I love pasta, and now a days even my little one started liking Mac & Cheese. Every time I open a pasta packet I wouldn’t finish it and have some leftover. To finish the remaining uncooked pasta, I end up buying same variety of pasta again.  Other day I felt like having payasam and searched for semiya, suddenly pasta pulled my attention and tried payasam with pasta. It was a big hit at home.

Ingredients:

Macaroni – 1/3 cup

Milk – 3 cups

Condensed milk  – 3 tbsp

Sugar –  3 tbsp (adjust according to your sweetness)

Saffron  – A pinch

Cardamom powder –  pinch

Butter/ Ghee-  1 tsp

Salt – a pinch

Method:

• Add ghee and macaroni to the pan; saute for a minute. Add 3 cups of warm milk and cook till the macaroni are fork tender

• Add saffron, condensed milk,  sugar, cardamom powder and salt, continue cooking for 4 – 6 minutes and switch off. Can  serve immediately or chill this overnight and serve it next day.

My Notes:

• Adding condensed milk gives rich creamy texture adjust the sugar accordingly
• Payasam tends to thicken more when cool down
• Usually I add cashew and raisin for payasam but other day missed to add while taking picture so I didn’t write in my recipe!
• I have used whole wheat pasta instead maida pasta can also be done
• If you are using penne, rotini, fettuccine, bow or any other pasta, cut the cooked pasta with ladle according to your taste

Arisi Thengai Payasam

This is a traditional Payasam prepared during festive seasons. When it comes to traditional jaggery Payasam,  I prefer Arisi Thengai Payasam over Moong Dal and Channa Dal Payasam. This quick Payasam with coconut flavour makes it delicious. Today being Navaratri day 1, I prepared this Payasam for neivedhyam.  Back in India we used to keep golu in steps. Inviting people to see our golu, visiting friends and relative houses and getting Sundal, along with gifts – omg so many amazing memories. Navaratri is something I miss here. This time with my kutti krishar, I couldn’t keep bhommai outside, but happy with few bhoomai inside our Pooja room:-)

Checkout my other Payasam Recipes

Arisi Thengai Payasam:

Preparation Time : 5 min | Soaking time – 15 mins | Cooking Time : 15 – 20 mins | Serves : 3

Recipe Category: Dessert

Ingredients:

Fresh Grated Coconut – 1/2 cup

Raw rice – 2 tbsp

Grated jaggery – 1/3 cup ( Adjust according to your taste)

Cardamom powder – 1/4 tsp

Milk –  1/3 cup

Cashew nuts and raisin – to taste

Ghee –  1/2 tsp

Method:

• Wash and soak rice in warm water for 10 – 15 minutes
• Grind soaked rice and grated coconut to a fine paste with 2/3 tbsp of water

• Add 1 cup water to the ground paste and mix well 

• In medium flame cook the mixture. Add cardamom powder and continue cooking.  Stir in between till its cooked (it turns from white to dull white to indicate the mixture is cooked)

• Add grated jaggery and cook till it completely dissolves, and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes

• Heat another pan with ghee and cook cashew and raisins till cashews are golden Brown

• In low flame Add milk and cook for a minute and switch off. Add the cashews and raisin to the Payasam and serve Hot/Cold

My Notes:

• Cardamom pods can be added instead of cardamom powder. Add cardamon while grinding coconut and rice if desire
• Rice make the Payasam thick so adjust water/milk according to the desired consistency
• If you think jaggery may have impurities, add jaggery and water in a separate pan cook till the jaggery melts. When it comes to room temperature strain them and add it to the Payasam
• Traditionally jaggery (Palm sugar) is used but white/brown sugar can also be used
• Make sure the coconut rice mixture is thin
• Milk can be added after switching off
• Instead of rice, rice flour can also be used

Carrot Almond Payasam

As a kid, I was a picky eater when it came to vegetables. Don’t know why, but I always hated carrots and beetroots. But I used to eat sweets like beetroot halwa, carrot halwa and cartot Payasam. Anything that comes in a sweet/dessert form – its a big Yesss from me. I gradually started liking carrot and beetroot in veggie form as well.  Whenever I see beetroot and carrot in fridge, I always have this urge to prepare sweets. Hubby makes sure I am not doing any sweet with those veggies 😦  Though I have prepared this dessert earlier, today being the first day of the tamil month Aadi (Aadi Friday in some places), thought of making this healthy and special payasam for the auspicious day.

Carrot Almond Payasam:

Preparation Time : 5 min | Cooking Time : 30 mins | Serves : 4

Recipe Category: Dessert

Ingredients:

Carrot – 4 medium peeled and cut into big chunks

Almonds – 1/3 cup (I used whole, but if you don’t like the skin, blanch, remove skin and then use it)

Milk  –  3 cup

Condensed milk – 3 tbsp

Sugar -1/3 cup

Cardamom – 2 pods

Almonds – few for garnish

Saffron – few strand (soak them in a tbsp. of milk)

Method:

• In a pressure cooker, add carrots, almonds, cardamom and 1 cup of milk, cook for 2-3 whistles and switch off. When it cone to room temperature blend then into fine puree

• In a sauce pan, add carrot puree and remaining milk, let them boil. When it starts boiling, add condensed milk, sugar and soaked saffron. Boil for 5- 10 minutes or till  they became thick. Garnish with some sliced almonds if desired. Serve hot or cold

My Notes:

• A saucepan can also be used instead of the pressure cooker. In a saucepan, take the chopped carrots, almonds (whole or blanched). Pour milk and cover. Boil till carrots are fork tender. Turn off the heat and let it cool
• Instead of grinding carrots, you can grate them and add. In that case skip cooking carrots with almonds, directly add carrot to the cooked and ground Almonds
• If you are vegan, use thin coconut milk to cook carrot and almonds and thick coconut milk at the end
• Instead of milk can cook carrot and almonds with water and can add milk while cooking Payasam
• Same procedure can be followed for beetroot payasam
• Same procedure can be followed for any kheer – Walnut, Cashew, Pistachio etc

 

Paal payasam (Rice Kheer)

I start drooling whenever I think about the rice kheer my mom makes. One of my favorite desserts ever since childhood days. Rice kheer was my first choice for the special delicacy that I get on birthdays when I was a kid. I have slightly altered Mom’s recipe.

Paal Payasam (Rice Kheer)r:

Preparation Time : 5 min | Cooking Time : 40 mins | Serves : 3

Recipe Category: Dessert

Ingredients:

Raw Rice – 1/4 cup

Whole Milk – 4 cups

Sugar – 1/2 cup

Cardamom – 2 pods

Condensed Milk – 1/4 cup

Ghee – 2 tsp

Cashew and Pista – as needed, to garnish

Method:

• Add ghee/butter to the pan, saute rice and cardamom in medium flame for a min. No need to cook till it changes colors. In a mixer grind the rice to a coarse powder (just break the rice)

•  Add the coarse powdered rice, 3 cups of milk, 1 tsp of ghee and 2 tbsp of water into a pressure cook and cook till you hear 2 whistles

• Once the pressure is realized, open the cooker, add 1 cups of  boiled milk and cook for 10 minutes. Add sugar and condensed milk. Continue boiling in low flame for another 10 minutes till it becomes slightly thick. Garnish with roasted Cashew and raw pista

My Notes:

• You can use Basmati Rice instead of Raw Rice
• Can add Saffron soaked in milk for extra flavour
• Milk Kheer becames thicker over period of time so keep that in mind when deciding on the consistency while switching off