Producer: Priyanka Das Editor: Nisha Dubey
Almond raisin payasam is rich, creamy and a milk-based pudding. It is a traditional Indian dessert made especially during festivals or celebrations.
The ingredients needed are: ½ cup overnight-soaked almonds and raisins each, 1 tablespoon of soaked basil (sabja) seeds, 5-6 cups of coconut milk, sugar, cashew nuts, pistachios or walnuts for garnishing. You will also need 1 teaspoon of cardamom powder, 5-6 saffron (kesar) strands, and mawa as well for enhanced taste.
The first step is to add coconut milk to a vessel and add saffron strands to it. Make sure to keep the heat on medium flame.
Meanwhile, pulse the soaked almonds in a grinder with two tablespoons of water or coconut milk and then add the paste to the milk.
Stir properly till the milk turns creamy and thick.
You can add crumbled khoya or choose to skip this step entirely.
The next step is to add sugar and stir it continuously. Add cardamom powder and stir again.
Finally, add the dried fruits and other garnishings except for the raisins.
When the payasam is at room temperature, add the soaked basil seeds and raisins. Adding soaked raisins to hot milk may curdle it.