Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Javvarisi payasam

In many households the thai vellikizhamai,  Fridays that fall in the Tamil month of Thai are observed with special prayers. Some of us prepare the maavilakku and offer. Some extra dishes are prepared as the neivedhyam on all the four (sometimes five) Fridays. Thus this year too, I prepared some for the Friday prayers. Every week of the month, I prepare one payasam and vadai to offer as neivedhyam.
Tapioca farming and small scale sago production units can be found around my hometown. So, on many occasions this was the choice for the payasam. During one of my home visits my father had asked a client to bring a few kilos of sago. This was to send to my sister, after being powdered in a commercial mill. She wanted the sago powder to starch  her cottons. But the person had brought home a sack full that was way too much. We sent it to the 'machine' to be powdered. But sago has a tendency to get sticky with the starch content. The mill assistant refused to powder any further, that would damage his vent. My mother does not easily give up and tried with her mixie. I convinced her that she cannot possibly get the entire quantity done and offered to take some sago pearls for use in my home. Thus I have about 1/2 kilogram left in my pantry. I decided to use some in the payasam. that was offered and consumed.

Ingredients:
Serves 2 people
150 millilitres milk
2 tablespoons sago pearls
2 teaspoons ghee
1/8 cup sugar
5-6 cashew nuts broken
1/4 teaspoon powdered cardamom



Method:
Place a heavy bottom pan on the stove and heat one teaspoon ghee. Add the sago pearls and lightly roast them until they are light brown and puffed up.
Roast the cashew nuts in the other teaspoon of ghee and keep aside.
In the same pan, heat some water and a little of the milk. Add the roasted sago and stir well and continuously. Add more water and cook the sago until the balls are transparent.
When the sago has been cooked, add the sugar and allow to blend.
Finally add the milk and bring to a boil. Simmer just for a few minutes. Remove from the fire.
Add the ghee roasted cashews and the cardamom powder.



You may also not roast the sago. But roasting adds to the flavour and also removes the stickiness from the sago pearls.
Serve the payasam warm. if left to chill, the payasam will thicken. If that happens, add some more warm milk and stir well before serving.

14 comments:

  1. My favourite dessert looks so yummy, last click is superb

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  2. Javvarisi payasam is easily my favorite... looks so tasty.

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  3. The last time I made this, I messed it up. I am the only one who likes it at home. So I shall make a generous helping all for myself !

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  4. Nice blog post Lata. Did you know that this payasam is a great remedy for heartburn when taken consistently for a couple of days? Tried and true!

    Anupama

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    1. I did not know that. That must be an easy remedy too.

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  5. My Son's favorite payasam, Iam yet to try it on my own...I iwll try this recipe for sure.

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  6. Yummy it looks and lovely colour for the payasma.

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  7. lovely javarisi payasam. I am drooling.

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  8. Reading your post brought a smile to my face - small-town life is so different. It's much the same with doctors and their patients too! Often some patients would bring vegetables, fruit, groundnuts, flowers, milk ... During Ramzan, one lady would bring her special brown vermicelli, it used to be so fine and fascinating to see! I don't remember what happened to it, though, what was made with it, I mean!

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  9. This looks delicious! I had never heard of it, it sounds interesting and flavorful. Great recipe!

    I just discovered your blog and browsed through some of your recipes, they all look scrumptious!

    I really enjoy reading your posts :) you have a new follower!

    Michela from Italy

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  10. Yummy payasam. Amma makes it often We call it glass payasam! !!!

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