Payasam is generally described as a creamy custard style Indian dessert made during festivals. Lentils, or Dals as known in Hindi are protein rich grains used widely in Indian cooking. Dal Payasam is a yummy dessert or sweet dish prepared using moong dal, coconut milk, luxury spices like cardamom, saffron and nuts. It is quite easy to prepare but tastes so good.
You can make this into a vegan dessert by swapping ghee with coconut oil. It is healthy too since you use jaggery (not the refined white sugar) which infuses a slight hint of caramel flavour. You will love this dessert after a nice meal or even on its own as a snack. The best bit is the aromas spread during the cooking are so inviting, your palate can’t wait to taste!
Let's prepare
Dal Payasam Recipe
Recipe Facts
Here is Your Recipe
Moong Dal (lentil) - 1 cup
Fresh Coconut - Half
Jaggery - 2 cups (grated)
Cardamom powder - 1 tsp.
Cashew Nuts - 1/4 cup
Raisins - 1/4 cup
Ghee - 3 tablespoons (coconut oil for vegan option)
Wash and drain the dal. Fry it in hot ghee for 2-3 mins. Keep aside.
Fry the cashews and raisins in ghee and keep aside.
Cut 5-6 coconut rings and chop it further to small pieces.
Fry it in ghee and keep aside.
Grate the remaining coconut and grind it with 1 cup of hot water.
Drain and reserve the coconut milk. This will be thicker.
Again add 1 cup hot water to the ground and drained coconut then grind again.
Squeeze the milk out and reserve in a separate bowl from the previous.
Add this second milk to the fried dal and pressure cook.
In the meantime, boil one and half cup water and add the shredded jaggery to it.
Boil it till the liquid obtains a thick consistency. Pour this into the boiled dal mixture and stir well.
Cook for a few mins.
Add cardamom powder and the fried coconut pieces, cashews and raisins.
Keep stirring all the time. Add the thick coconut milk and mix well.
Remove from heat and serve hot.
For richness add saffron along with cardamom powder
It tastes great if eaten cold too
