“Wishing all the readers of this blog A Happy and Prosperous Vishu’”
Vishu is one of festival which brings back a lot of nostalgic memories. It falls in the month of Medam (Malayalam calendar, which run from April-May). This year it falls on April 15. It is one of traditional festival celebrated in Kerala next to Onam where everybody celebrates. In other parts of India it is celebrated as Baishaki in Punjab, Bihu in Assam and Tamil Nadu as Tamil Puthandu. Main customs related to vishu are vishukani, visit to temple and eat a awesome feast with the fruits and vegetables kept in the kani. Vishnukanni is observed early morning around 4.30- 5.00 A.M. Women in the family usually keep vishu kani in the pooja room. Vishu kani would include Lord Krishna idol, Uruli (flat bottom vessel), contains rice, dal, glass mirror vegetables like cucumber, jackfruit, mango, coconut, fruits like banana, pineapple, a new cloth, some ornaments, coins, and at last kanikkonna poo (Cassia fistula,golden shower tree) with oil lit lamp by the side.
According to literal meaning of Vishnukanni, in the form of idol of Lord Krishna, you are seeing the entire world. Kanikonna flower represents his crown, golden cucumber and ripe mango like bright colored fruit and vegetables represents his face. Lamp and mirror represents his mind and book represents his words. Gold ornaments represent his dressings. So you are seeing entire nature and world in this Vishukani.
It also noted that kannikonna poo plants has flowers only till Vishu, after which it loses it flowers and waits for the entire year to flower again. It is welcoming the spring with its bright yellow color. Usually in Kerala, rice is planted during this auspicious time and day of year, with the belief that harvest will be good for the rest of year.
I keep vishukani in our Pooja room and make as simple a feast as possible.
Chakka Payasam or jackfruit preserve pudding is usually made during Vishu. As jackfruit becomes abundant, the way of preserving them for rest of year is chakka varatti or jack fruit preserve. You can make a variety of sweets with them. Most common are Ela ada, kumblappam (cone shaped steamed cake), appam (fried version) and Payasam. During my visit to India, I was gifted with a pack of chakka varatti (jackfruit preserve) from my sister in law who visited Kerala recently that time. My mother in law kept aside for us. I made Ela ada with half of the preserve and with other half I decided to make Chakka Pradhaman. One beauty of this dish is that you need only a can of coconut milk, a teaspoon of ghee and some toasted coconut, with a touch of dry ginger. I didn’t add any extra sweetener if you want you can add jaggery as your wish. Amma used to do the laborious work of extracting coconut milk starting from removing the hard skin of coconut, then grating and finely grinding them. But her daughter now only opens a can of coconut milk which is very easy. One more thing, I think we people from Kerala like to do is add jaggery with coconut milk instead of sugar in our desserts. I think combo of unrefined jaggery with silky coconut milk makes the taste awesome. Delicious, lip snacking Pradhaman is ready in no time, I made it according to amma’s recipe.
One year ago: Vishu a festival of agriculture and vishu feast
Print recipe from here
What you need
Chakka varatti/Jack fruit preserve: ½ cup packed
Water: 1 ¼ cup
Coconut pieces: ⅕ cup
Cashew nuts: 15 no
Cardamom: 4 no ( crushed into fine powder)
Ground ginger: ¼ teaspoon
Ghee/clarified butter: 1 tablespoon
Coconut milk: 1 cup
How I made
In a thick bottom pan add jackfruit preserve and ½ cup water so it gets loosens and becomes jam consistency it takes 2 minutes.
In small bowl mix ¼ cup coconut milk with ½ cup of water and add this mixture to jackfruit preserve and let is cook for about 7 minutes.
In a small pan heat ghee and first roast the cashew nuts till they become golden brown and set aside.
In the same pan add coconut pieces and fry them for about 3-4 minutes or until they brown in color and set aside.
Then add ¼ cup coconut milk along with ¼ cup water to the jack fruit preserve and cook for another 3 minutes and then finally add rest of coconut milk and switch of the flame.
To this add roasted cashew nuts, coconut pieces, dry ginger and cardamom powder.
Enjoy as much you wish.
Preparation time: 17 minutes
Yield: 2cup
Verdict: YUMM
Will you make it again: yes I will
This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ says
Oh this is delish , i think i have had this when i went to the south and love it.
And there is a mall , bay pride, where the food court has all sorts of payasams happening on the festival day , i loved them all.
Jyothi says
Heyy! Happy Vishu! Pradhaman adipoli!
Btw, I also made chakkapradhaman for Vishu!! 🙂 Yay, same pinch! 😉
Sarah Naveen says
Vishu adichu polichallo!!! alle..eppo ivide vannalum oru nadu feeling...
pradhaman asalayittundu!!
Trix says
yum! I like this holiday, it looks delicious : )
Ila says
wonderful and yummy payasam 🙂 Belated vishu wishes:)
MaryMoh says
Happy Vishu! Thanks for sharing about Vishu. It's wonderful to learn of different cultures. Your pudding looks very delicious. Hope you have a wonderful day. MaryMoh at http://www.keeplearningkeepsmiling.com
Sukanya Ramkumar says
Lovely looking Traditional sweet... YUM!
Reeni says
Your pudding looks scrumptious! And I love hearing of your traditions!
G.Pavani says
healthy n yummy pudding..
Mélange says
Belated Vishu Greetings.Chakka Prathaman looks so tempting.A very nostalgic payasam.It's been long since I had some.
Nancy and Vijay says
Belated Happy Vishu Swathi! I love to read about the different festivals of India.
Ann says
I learn something new every time I read your blog! Very interesting!
Miriam says
Happy Vishu to you too!! Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
Kairali sisters says
Chakka pradhaman adipoli, njnaum ennale sadhyke undakiyrunnu...
Eat Hearty says
Wish you a happy Vishu dear. The prasadam looks very tasty!
Thanks for the lovely comment on my blog, please do collect your awards!! 🙂
Ankita
http://eat-hearty.blogspot.com
JishasKitchen says
happy Vishu dear....ethu adipoli aayittundu....loved the color and it looks very tempting...yum yum
San says
Yummylicious kheer apt for the special day .Hope you enjoyed .
Yummy Team says
Chakka pradhaman adipoli, Swathi..Vishunu mumbu pazha pradhaman undkakanamenne vicharichatha pakshe nadannilla..This looks absolutely delicious!! Thanks for the step pics..
Jay says
sounds yummmmm n delicious...beautiful presentation dear..:P
Tasty Appetite
girlichef says
Wow, it looks creamy and inviting and I love the cashews on top. I have never, ever had jackfruit...I really need to find some so I can try it!
Madhura Manoj says
Creamy & yummy...
http://www.easycookingforamateurs.com/
An Open Book says
reminds me of my grand moms cooking
Treat and Trick says
Nice color and looks yummy!
http://treatntrick.blogspot.com
Rosita Vargas says
feliz celebración debe ser una hermosa fiesta ,tu receta está maravillosa,luce muy buena,cariños.
Pushpa says
Happy Vishu Swati.Payasam looks delicious.
Peggy says
This sounds like a great combination!
Ananda Rajashekar says
Happy Vishu i have had this payasam once love it should try sometime 🙂
Nitha says
Happy Vishu... Even I have some chakka varatti in my fridge.. So planning to make payasam out of it today.. Lets see how it comes 🙂
Rebecca from Chow and Chatter says
lovely dessert and happy Vishru
Vimitha Anand says
Happy Vishu and Chakka Pradhaman is my all time favorite Keralite dish... Looks delish
Sonia says
Hi Swati,This is looking absolutely delightful. Very nicely made and presented. I wud love to give it a shot on the coming weekend... Have a great day !
Julia says
Fence so you can learn in your kitchen. I loved this recipe also is that I like easily and quickly.
A hug
SheenaBabu says
Payasam looks so wonderful .......
Happy Vishnu Swathi!!
Raji says
Happy Vishu..the payasam is simply amazing.
Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal says
Happy new year to you too dear, love the pics 🙂
Karishma says
Happy Vishu Swathi...We too celebrated Vishu...I always prefer the "brown" payasams over the white ones and we make a version of this with "nendrapazham" which is delicious! Didn't know you were from Kerala before...well, glad to meet you :-)...will be linking you up in my blog post for the next hearth and soul blog hop! Checked it today but unfortunately it was closed 🙁
Sensible Vegetarian says
Happy vishu to you. Chakka Pradhaman looks absolutely mouthwatering, one of my favorites but its ages since I had. Feel like grabbing that bow.
Hamaree Rasoi says
Happy Vishu Swathi, we bengalis celebrate this as Poila Baisakh. This pudding preparation is new for me. Looks creamy and delicious
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
maiylah says
Happy Vishu!
...interesting recipe; would love to try that.
we love jackfruit eaten raw or mixed with other desserts. 🙂
Joanne says
I've never had jackfruit before but somehow you've got me craving it! Happy holiday!
Lena Rashmin Raj says
kothiyaavanu.... happy Vishu dear 🙂
El Oteador de los Mercados says
That such an interesting explanation of the party, and good recipe. Thanks to discover that food so long.
Tina says
kandittu control poyeeeeeee..perfect n fabulous dear.
Now Serving says
Swathi, Wish you a Happy Vishu! Payasam looks completely delectable!!!
Priya Sreeram says
ooh la la-- yyum, slurp, yummmmmmmmmmmmmm; swathi sending across vishu gretings to u n family ! Have a grt year ahead and i just can't stop drooling !!
kaveri says
Happy Vishu...Payasam looks mouthwatering..love Chakka pradhaman...
Suman Singh says
Happy vishu to you and your family!!
Jackfruit payasam looks delicious..new dish for me.
Priya says
Happy Vishu wishes to u and ur family Swathi..Payasam looks simply out of the world, love it..
Mehjabeen Arif says
Happy Vishnu dear ! payasam looks yum.. liked the step by step photos.
sinfullyspicy.com says
Happy New year to you,This pudding looks yummy.New for me.
Rani acharyulu says
Happy Vishu to you and your family.Delicious recipe.Thanks for sharing this lovely desert.
warm greetings
rani
Señorita says
Looks yummy!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
http://ladyonaroof.blogspot.com/
Vandana Rajesh says
Nice chakka pradhaman. A very happy vishu to you and family. Have some chakka varattiyata in the refrigerator...going to try your tempting recipe:)Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Nandini says
Happy Vishu! The pradhaman looks very gorgeous!
Rachu says
happy vishu..!!! ugran chakka payasam too..
ammaandbaby.blogspot.com/
Ramya says
Happy Vishu to u and Family:-)Pradhaman looks soo delicious!!
Curry Leaf says
HAPPY VISHU and a Very Prosperous New Year to You and Family. Pradhaman is definitely YUMMY.
savitha ramesh says
Happy vishu and may god bless with abundant health and wealth.Jack fruit pratham looks delicious and creamy.
Shanavi says
Hmmm.. YUm, so creamy, Loooove it. Happy vishu swathi dear
Deepti says
Happy vishu Swathi......chakka Pratham is so tempting.Loved the color of it....Perfect for Today...
http://panchamrutham.blogspot.com/
SravsCulinaryConcepts says
Wish u happy vishnu !! Payasam looks so wonderful and YUM !!