Semiya Payasam with Condensed Milk

Category: Indian Sweets / Desserts
Preparation Time: 5 mins 
Cooking Time: 20-30 mins
Servings: For 4-5 persons

I am excited to post this easy sweet recipe as my 100th Post!!!! This is very easy one and Since we used condensed milk, it would be creamy and delicious. Also we can adjust the quantity of condensed milk as per the required sweetness. We can also prepare it with plain milk if we didn't have condensed milk in hand. In such case, milk needs to boil well till it gets reduced a bit to attain the creamy texture. If we don't like creamier version, we can cook the semiya separately in water and then add the cooked semiya to the milk.

Semiya Payasam - So Creamy!!

Ingredients:

• Semiya/ Vermicelli- 1 cup (I used the pre-roasted variety)
• Milk, (Preferably Full Cream) - 4 cups
• Condensed milk - 1 can
• Cardamon seeds - 1/4 tsp
• Ghee - 1 tbsp
• Cashews, chopped -2-3 tbsp
• Almonds, chopped - 2-3 tbsp
• Raisins - 8-10 nos

Method:

1. I have used roasted semiya, if we are using the non-roasted variety, we need to roast them in little ghee till it turns golden brown
2. In a large vessel, add milk and allow to boil for 5 mins in medium flame
   
3. Add the roasted semiya along with the cardamom seeds and allow them to cook in milk itself
   
4. Once the semiya gets well cooked, reduce the flame to low and mix well
   
5. Add in the condensed milk, mix well (I realized I should have used big vessel)
   
   
6. Allow to simmer for 5-7 mins
   
7. In a small pan, add the ghee and roast the chopped nuts and raisins and keep it ready
8. Add the roasted nuts and raisins to the payasam and switch it off
   
9. Payasam will gets thickened as it cools down, we can add warm milk if required while serving 
10. Serve warm / chilled!
    

Carrot-Oats Payasam

Category: Indian Sweets / Desserts
Preparation Time: 5 mins 
Cooking Time: 20-30 mins
Servings: For 3-4 persons

Carrot-Oats Payasam

 Ingredients:

• Carrot, grated - 1 no (around 1/2 cup tightly packed)
  
• Milk - 3 cups (I used full cream milk)
• Oats - 1/3 cup (I used the old-fashioned oats)
• Sugar - 1/3 cup
• Cardamon powder - a pinch
• Ghee - 1 tbsp
• Cashews, chopped -5-6 nos
• Walnuts, chopped - 7-8 nos
• Raisins - 10-15 nos 

Method:

1.  Dry roast oats for around 5-6 mins and keep aside
   
2.  Heat 1 tsp of ghee in a heavy bottomed pan and add in the grated carrot and saute well for 5 mins
   
3. Add 1 cup of milk and allow the carrot to get cooked in medium flame by stirring often
   
4. Once the carrot gets cooked and become soft, add the remaining 2 cups of milk and allow to boil
   
5. Once it starts to boil, add in the roasted oats and allow to cook for 5-8 mins
   
6. Then add cardomom powder and sugar, mix well and cook in low flame for 8-10 mins
7. Meanwhile in another pan, heat ghee and roast the cashews and walnuts till it becomes golden brown and add in the raisins and switch off
   
8. Add the roasted nuts and raisins over the payasam and switch off
   
9. Serve hot or keep it in refrigerator and serve chilled 
   
10. For low calorie version, we can avoid ghee, nuts and even sugar and follow the same recipe with just oats, carrot, milk and cardamom powder
    

Quinoa Kheer / Payasam

Category: Indian Sweets / Desserts
Preparation Time: 5 mins 
Cooking Time: 20 mins
Servings: For 3-4 persons

For my 50th post, I thought of preparing a healthy, sweet, kid-friendly recipe and thus came this Quinoa Payasam / Quinoa Kheer:) Quinoa as we all know is one of the healthiest food and for this dish we can add any choice of fruits or nuts to make this more healthy as well as Yummy:)

Quinoa Payasam

Quinoa- Strawberry Payasam

Ingredients:

• Quinoa - 1/2 cup
• Milk - 3 cups
• Sugar - 1/2 cup (Jaggery can also be used)
• Cardamon seeds - 1/4 tsp
• Ghee - 1 tbsp
• Cashews, chopped -5-6 nos
• Walnuts, chopped - 5-6 nos
• Strawberry, chopped - few (Optional) (Any fruits can be used)

Method:

1. Place Quinoa in a fine strainer and wash well in running water, drain and keep aside
2. Cook Quinoa as per the package instructions (Add Quinoa and 1 cup of water in a pan and bring to boil, then lower the flame and let it sit for 15 mins. When the sprouts / germs inside the seeds are visible, it means its cooked) Since it's bit bland, I added few cardamon seeds and few drops of ghee during cooking process and it gives a nice flavor
   
3. While it's cooking, boil the milk in medium flame for 10-12 mins; add few cardamon seeds for additional flavor
   
4. Add the cooked quinoa into the milk, stir well and allow to cook for few more mins
   
5. Add Sugar and mix well and keep the flame in medium
6. In another pan, heat ghee and roast the cashews and walnuts ill it becomes golden brown
   
7. Add the roasted nuts and switch off
   
8. Serve hot or allow to cool down
   
9. Once it cools, add the chopped strawberries and serve:) 
   

Pasta Payasam

Category: Indian Sweets / Desserts
Preparation Time: 10 mins 
Cooking Time: 15 mins
Servings: For 3-4 persons

Pasta Payasam

Ingredients:

• Pasta / Macaroni - 3/4 cup (I used the smaller variety)
• Milk - 2  3/4 cup
• Sugar - 1/2 cup (adjust as per taste)
• Cardamon seeds - 1/4 tsp
• Ghee - 1 tbsp
• Cashews, chopped -7-8 nos
• Raisins - 8-10 nos

Method:

1. Cook Pasta in enough water till it gets half-cooked; wash in cold water, drain and keep aside
   
2. In a wide pan, boil milk for few mins and then add half-cooked pasta and cardamon seeds
3. Allow the pasta to cook completely in milk
   
4. Once it becomes soft, add the sugar and cook for few more mins
   
   
5. In another pan, heat Ghee and fry cashews and raisins; Add it to the milk 
   
6.  Switch off and serve hot or cold