Payasams /Kheer are loved by one and all. This sweet Indian dessert doesn’t need elaborate ingredients or preparations . They can be made quickly , to rejoice a celebration , a casual visit by a friend or to satisfy the sweet cravings . Unlike many Indian sweets , Payasams are low in calories . brown sugar available in the market for a healthier payasam.
One can replace the sugar with the
Recipe taken from Cook and See Part- 1.
Ingredients
- Sago 3½ tablespoon,
- Milk 1 cup,
- Ghee 4 teaspoon,
- Sugar ½ cup,
- Cashew nuts 12,(broken)
- Water 1 ½ cups,
- Cardamom powder ½ teaspoon,
- Saffron 4 to 5 strands, dissolved in 2 tbsp of milk(optional),
- Pachai karpooram(optional).
Method
- In a thick bottomed pan/kadai, heat 2 tsp of ghee and fry the cashew nuts till golden brown. Remove and keep aside.
- Heat rest of the ghee in the kadai and shallow fry sago pearls, to reddish brown. Add water and cook.
- The sago will become soft and transparent, and starts swelling up. Stir often, to prevent lumps.
- Add sugar and milk, give a stir, till all mixes well.
- Add cardamom powder and saffron strands along with pachai karpooram.
- Mix well and add cashew nuts.
- Delicious payasam is ready to serve.
Note
One can replace the sugar with brown sugar, for a healthier payasam.
Other nuts like ( almonds , pista) too can be fried and added to the payasam.
You can cook the sago pearls in milk , instead of water to get a richer tastier payasam . In that case , double the quantity of the milk.
Condensed milk can be added to get a richer taste.
Jaggery can be added to the cooked payasam ,instead of sugar.