Semiya Payasam/Kheer
Onashamsakal !! Happy Onam to you all !!
Onam is celebrated by Keralites irrespective of their religion, culture etc; Onam brings very fond memories to all malayalees and it’s same with me.
If you want to experience the spirit of Onam, you should visit the DH (Darbar Hall) Road in Cochin during Onam. The entire road is filled with the sound of street vendors competing with each other, the aroma of freshly fried banana chips, the fragrance of flowers, the laughter of families enjoying their Onam shopping and what not. You just have to stand at the entrance of the road and the crowd will push you to your destination :-)
My Onam memories would be incomplete if I didn’t mention my visits with friends, to the Onam fair. We had a tuition class at a tutorial just in front of the DH Road and we used to skip it frequently. Come Onam and we were regular students. We’d be just waiting for the class to get over, so that we could go and hang out at the fair and payasam melas. Am sure every Malayali will have their own share of ‘sweet’ memories like these.
Now back to our topic, the star attraction of the Onasadaya, payasam. I guess you can divide payasam lovers broadly into two categories – those who love pal payasam (milk and sugar based) and those who love sharkkara payasam (jaggery & coconut milk based). I fall in the latter.
Though I’ve made a full fledged Onasadaya only once after my wedding, I never compromised on payasams. Since my husband and myself fall into two different categories, I make both pal payasam and parippu payasam. Semiya payasam is his favorite and I should say its the simplest of all.
If you don’t have much time to spare in the kitchen and still want to grab the festive mood of Onam, you can go for this easy and delicious treat :-)
Other payasam’s in this blog:
Here is the recipe:
- Vermicelli/semiya – 200gm
- Milk – 2 ltrs
- Condensed milk – 1 tin
Sugar – 5tbsp - Cashew nuts & raisins – 1/2 cup each
- Cardamom – 2 big, crushed
- Ghee/clarified butter – 2 1/2 tbsp
Heat 2 tbsp ghee in a bottom heavy pan and roast the semiya till golden brown. Add milk to it and cook on low flame till semiya is fully done. Keep stirring in between. Add condensed milk and sugar and stir, till it is well combined with milk. Add crushed cardamom and remove from fire.
Heat 1/2 tbsp ghee in a pan and fry the cashew nuts, when it becomes golden brown, add raisins. Add the fried cashews and raisins to payasam. Serve hot or chilled.
Note: Since one tin condensed milk is used, this payasam is rich and has a creamy texture.If you prefer less creamier payasam substitute condensed milk with 2 cups sugar.
Adjust the quantity of sugar and condensed milk to suit your taste. The quantity prescribed above gives a medium-high sweetened payasam.
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Happy Onam,Maria…Payasam looks great…:))
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thanks Annita and wish you the same :)
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the payasam looks yummy Maria.thanks for the recipe :)
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thanks Simple :)
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This looks so mouth-watering..usually i have a dislike for semiya paayasam..but this one triggered a yearning feel for semiya!!
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I try your recepies, its simple and delicious.
Good work.
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thanks ammu.. even am not a big semiya fan..but I dont mind the condensed milk version ;)
Thanks Ajith for trying out the recipes here :)
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Hi !
Just happened to drop by , You have brilliant recipes…Love them all ! Will definitely try few! thanks.
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Smylee, thanks a lot for dropping in. Please do try the recipes and let me know your feedback :)
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Hey Mariachi…..I tried your semiya payasam recipe. It came out really good. Everyone loved it!!!!
I did not add any sugar but it still tasted great.
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Maria
Reply: on November 16th, 2009 at 8:05 pmThanks again dear for trying out the recipes and also for leaving the comments here :) Looks like you are into cooking these days, good!!
Cheers
Maria
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Here I am once again to compliment you for this wonderful recipe.I made semiya payasam again…this time for my b’day. I was very worried about feedbacks as I invited some of my friends who are experts in Kerala Cusine.
I received many compliments about the payasam :) They even went for second helpings!!! I have highly recommeded your website to them :)
Keep up the good work!!!
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Maria
Reply: on February 9th, 2010 at 7:42 pmSuzie dear, your comments always brightens my mood :)
Hope you had a great time with your friends. Thanks a ton dear for the recommendation :)
Cheers
Maria
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very good recipe…i made it today. Very thick .Waitign for my husband to come home and try it for the compliments
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Maria
Reply: on April 13th, 2010 at 5:13 pmHi Amoolya,
Thanks dear :) Hope your husband too liked it and you got all the compliments :)
Cheers
Maria
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Hi Maria,
Thanks for the simple and delecious recepie for Payasam. Each time i think of making payasam, i will go little back of thinking the difficulties in arranging traditional ways of Onnam Pal, randam pal etc..and the time. This is so simple and tasty. I am making the same whenever i want.
Thanks
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Maria
Reply: on June 3rd, 2010 at 6:27 amHi Sibey
Thank you :)
Btw, try making coconut milk using coconut milk powder, its very easy and the taste is also decent. I always use that.
Cheers
Maria
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Maria
Reply: on June 3rd, 2010 at 6:27 amHi Sibey
Thank you :)
Btw, try making coconut milk using coconut milk powder, its very easy and the taste is also decent. I always use that.
Cheers
Maria
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Just made the payasam today, it is once again awesome!!! The additional things I added were saffron, rose water and almond flakes. Thanks once again!!!!
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Maria
Reply: on August 28th, 2010 at 5:00 pmHi Leah,
You are welcome dear :)
Cheers
Maria
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