February 23, 2009

Nei payasam ~ Kerala Special



Nei means ghee. So nei payasam literally translates as ghee payasam. Don't think I am going to give a recipe of payasam/kheer with ghee as the main ingredient. Indeed , ghee is the star ingredient in the recipe. This is a combination of rice , jaggery and ghee. Sounds simple isn't it. But the rich taste of the payasam is heavenly. Its also known as kadu madhura payasam (very very sweet payasam). Yes, the rice:jaggery is 1:3. Nei payasam is a famous offering in the temples of Kerala. This is also prepared during Bhagavathy Seva, a pooja conducted to please Devi, which is performed in the month of Karkitakam/Aadi (15th July-15th Aug).


As I mentioned, because of the sweetness and richness of ghee, it can be eaten in small portions only. When the payasam is prepared for any ordinary occasion or wants it to be less sweeter, then the rice:jaggery is added in the proportion of 1:2. The ratio seems to vary from home to home. Also select jaggery which is brown which gives a nice deep color to the payasam.


Ingredients
Raw rice - 1/3 cup

Jaggery - 1 cup

Ghee- 1/3 cup or less

Water -1/3 cup to melt jaggery.


Garnish

cashew,raisin - 10 nos each

coconut, cut into small pieces - 1 tblspn


Method:
Wash and pressure cook rice till it is well cooked. Later,on cooking in jaggery, it will turn grainy. Melt jaggery in a pan with 1/3 cup of water. Strain and bring the jaggery syrup to boil. Simmer for 2 or 3 minutes. Stir in the cooked rice, with out forming lumps. If you find it difficult, switch off the stove. Once the rice is well mixed with the syrup, put it on fire again. Add a tablespoon of ghee. Keep stirring and add ghee at intervals to avoid sticking to the bottom of the pan. Reserve a tablespoon of ghee for frying cashews etc.Cook till the mixture starts leaving the sides and gets a saucy consistency. Don't over cook and it will become a hard mass on cooling.


Take a small pan. Add ghee. Add pieces of coconut. Roast till it browns. Remove the coconut and add cashews. When they start browning, throw in the raisins. When the raisins puff up , remove from fire. Garnish with payasam with roasted coconut, cashews and raisins. Enjoy spoon full of payasam. You cannot go beyond 3 spoons at one go. It stays good even 3 days with out refrigeration, when properly made.

With this measurement, it will serve 2.






22 comments:

  1. Perfect post for Shivarathri.The payasam looks so tempting.What you said is true,it too sweet and can be taken only few spoons at a time.The pic is very very good.I always associate this payasam with Devi temples.

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  2. So yum! Love the color. We get gold colored Jaggary here which gives light color. Enjoy! :)

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  3. Awesome. I think u want me to lick the screen. Yum.

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  4. Is it the same as Ayyappa prasadam?I could taste dry ginger flavour in that...awesome.

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  5. Jayasree, you have no idea how many images of me licking my palms are flashing in my mind now....i just love this payasam....it is extra tasty when we get it from temples...i truly wish i could get ur bowl now :)

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  6. Very different payasam, look like Panchamiratham :)

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  7. Yummy payasam...This tastes great too... Nei in Tulu also means ghee :)

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  8. Nei paayasam sounds delicious...looks yummy..

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  9. I never make payasam with jaggery. looks so good and mouth-watering.

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  10. Wow,this is one helluva sweet,i simply love it.Good one,we call it Aravanai at home.Super stuff!

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  11. looks delicious..i think I have had this in ayyapan temples as prasadams...

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  12. It looks so good...and delicious..truly mouthwatering recipe!

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  13. Lovely Payasam Jayasree,I simply love it when it is offered as prasadam and then distributed..like Shn said,I simply love licking it off my palms..is the same one called Iratti madhuram too??

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  14. looks very delectable.. i have had this but never knew how to make it.

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  15. Hello Jayasree,
    This recipe looks heavenly. My best friend is a Palakkad Iyer, and i've devoured recipes like these and others like chakkapradhaman, nei appam and so on in her place. this brings back memories of the wonderful moments we had together as friends...

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  16. Nei in payasam seems to be a divine combo!

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  17. Your picture is just beautiful and you have such beautiful way of explaining about the ingredients esp. the payasam

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  18. Payasam looks yummy and mouthwatering.

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  19. Nei payasam looks fabulous, Jayasree!

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  20. hello.. even my name is d same :P anywaz thanks 4 such a delicious recipe..

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