GASD71

Payasam

 

 

 

 Payasam can be considered a rice pudding and consists of boiled rice, broken wheat, vermicelli, sugar, cardamom, raisins, saffron, cashew nuts (pistachios or almonds). It also has cultural ties to Tamil speaking Hindus and is served during auspicious times.

 

Rani Thangarajah compiled recipies in a cookbook called Jaffna Tamils from which the following ingredients for payasam were used:

 

1/2 cup vermicelli
1 tsp ghee
1 cup boiling water
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
Saffron strands (a pinch)
5-6 cashew nuts
1 tsp raisons/sultanas
1 tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp powdered cloves