Pachamulaku Payasam ; Green chilli Payasam

Payasam is mostly a sweet dish prepared with milk or coconut milk and a variety of other ingredients. It's a must have for the kerala traditional sadhya and also for occasions. But todays recipe is a very different payasam and is one which helped me to win first and second prizes in two consecutive Payasam Competitions and is a very unique combination of hot and sweet flavours. As the name says it all, it's a sweet and spicy payasam which is very easy to make and the name itself will make your dish a crowd pleaser.

Ingredients 

• Sago seeds: 5 Tbspn
• Green chillies: 4 nos 
• Sugar: 1/2 Cup
• Cardamom: 4 nos 
• Thin coconut milk: 400ml
• Thick coconut milk: 250 ml
• Ghee: 2 Tbspn
• Cashews and raisins: 25gms each
• Water to cook sago

Method

1. Boil 3 to 4 cups of water and cook the washed sago for 20 minutes. Strain this and wash in running tap water and keep aside.
2. While the sago is cooking prepare the green chillies by sliting it open and scrape out all the seeds and white portion inside the chilli. We need only the green portion of the chillies.
3. Add the cleaned chillies, sugar and cardamom to the small mixie jar and blend it well by adding little water. Strain this mixture through a sieve and keep ready
4. Heat 1 tbspn of ghee in a pot and add the seived mixture to hot ghee and roast well for 5 minutes until the coulr has become little dark green and the raw smell of chilli is gone.
5. To this add the thin coconut milk and allow to boil.
6. Once boiled, add the cooked sago and boil for another 5 to 10 minutes 
7. Now add the thick coconut milk and switch off flame.
8. Heat the remaining 1 tbspn of ghee and roast the cashews and raisins and add this to the payasam.

Hot and sweet payasam is ready to serve.

Pachamulaku payasam gains fame through headline 

First prize @ Indian Club 

The proud moment

The table set up @ the competition 

Second prize @ World Malayalam Federation Payasam competition 

Happy cooking 

Shabana