Come to think of it, I should have started my first post for the New Year with a recipe for something sweet. After all it is customary isn’t it? I followed this protocol the previous 2 years, but then this year I strayed away and started off with this, something savory, sinful yet delicious. So am I trying to be different this year and break some grounds? Nah, the pictures for the payasam were not ready on time and hence I could not make this the first post to kick start the New Year.
The source of this recipe is Indira’s Chana Dal Payasam. I love this recipe for its simplicity and ease of preparation. But don’t be tricked, the taste is just delicious and divine. Another factor that interested me is that this payasam does not use coconut at all. Prior to this I had not seen traditional payasams made without the coconut. The addition of sago and vermicelli gives it the carbs and the thickness. I prepare this payasam when I am low on coconut or not in mood for grinding the coconut for the regular Chana Daal Kheer. Also as a bonus the addition of Chana daal gives me feeling that I am eating something healthy. Thanks Indira for sharing this wonderful recipe.
I have made some small changes to the recipe, but mostly stuck to the original one. I like my payasam consistency to be thick and creamy. But if you prefer it thinner then feel free to add more liquid.
On an ending note, I am not very thrilled with the pictures. The tube light in the room in which I take pictures went kaput. So I took the pictures with what ever options I had. Much to my dismay the white counter tops appear grey mostly because of the absence of bright light.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup chana daal/ Bengal gram daal (soaked in water for 4-5 hours)
- ¼ cup vermicelli
- ¼ cup sago/sabudana (soak for 1 hour)
- Milk (preferable 2% or even more)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- ½ cup jaggery (powdered, preferable light colored)
- 2 tsp ghee
- ½ tsp Cardamom powder
- 5-10 cashew pieces
- 10-15 raisins
Recipe Source: Indira’s Chana Dal Payasam
Method:
- This is the most important part. Pressure cook the soaked chana daal along with ½ cup water and ½ cup milk.
- Make sure the chana daal does not over cook and become a paste. But on the same note, make sure it is cooked and does not have a bite to it. The cooked daal should melt in your mouth. It is good if the daal disintegrates a bit, as it blends well with milk and jaggery. Otherwise the taste of milk and jaggery is overpowering.
- Take another pan, heat some ghee and lightly roast the vermicelli.
- Take a heavy bottom pan, pour the milk, water in the pan and bring to boil. Add the jaggery and let it blend well.
- Reduce the flame and then add cooked chana daal, soaked sabudana, vermicelli, sugar, and let this simmer for about 20 minutes ( or until it thickens up a little).
- Stir this whole thing in between, so that it does not settle at the bottom.
- Meanwhile separately heat the ghee(please do not substitute with oil) in a heavy bottomed pan over medium heat and fry cashews till golden brown, next add raisins and fry until they plump up. Keep them aside.
- Remove from flame and then add cardamom, cashews and raisins. Cool to room temperature. Note that after it is cooled the entire thing will thicken a lot.
Sounds healthy and tasty!
Your pictures look good to me Supriya as does the kheer. I have never tasted/ made or come across a version like this. I think I am going to give it a try one of these days.
Thats a wonderful combo…loved ur bowl…
personally i dont like channa dal and sabudana… but i have to say that golden hue of the payasam is looking lovely… plus i love the bowls!
I want to have this delicous payasom, it is ages ago i had them.
The payasam looks beautiful light or no light. I keep under estimating the taste of channa dal but the addition of vermicelli makes it work for me.
What a great recipe to start a new year! The soup looks chunky and delicious!
Love this different combo..with sago,channa dhal and vermicelli. Hey i have this same ikea bowl.. which i posted with mushroom soup.
Love those bowls !!! Now you are pushing me to go to IKEA
Have never had chana dal kheer or kheer with coconut, must be good
Happy 2010 RC, hope you had a fab time partying!
)
Happy New Year!!! Delicious kheer, I make kheer with chana and sago, but adding vermicilli is new to me. Nice combo.
Wow, what a gorgeous looking payasam!! And too tempting too. Lovely combo.
Belated wishes for a very happy new year
You take beautiful pictures.
A very different kind of payasam indeed! Could never imagine a dal & sago in payasam. We never use coconut in our payasam/kheer; just milk sugar, cardamom etch and the rice/sooji(sometimes).
All-in-one payasam, by the sound of it! I make payasams coconut free too when I decide so. This is an addition to my to-try list!
lovely payasa .. never combined the three, looks nice
Looks very tasty. Bookmarked.
I generally dont make payasam a lot…only during festivals. But this time I will try even before the habba season.
Thank you all so much for the warm comments. The bowls from IKEA are so pretty aren’t they? Now I feel that I should have brought all the other avaialble colors along with the red. Sigh
Wow….looks delectable….to go with all…i too liked those bowls….
The pictures look so inviting and great Supriya can’t make out that there are no lights…:)
That payasam looks very tasty..That is very unique!