One more festival of sharing and prosperity has come to visit us, so we will enjoy it with great fun. In Kerala, southern part of India it is celebrated as Vishu a Harvest festival, in neighboring Tamil Nadu it is celebrated as Tamil New Year and in Punjab it is celebrated as Baisakhi and in Assam it is celebrated as Bihu.
During Vishu ( April-May, this year April 14th), Laburnums flowers starts to bloom, glittering everything in beautiful yellow, even a special variety of cucumber shows off its skin in beautiful yellow, gold coin everything related to Vishu is bright yellow as sunshine. In Kerala, Jack fruit, Mango, Cashew trees are in full form starting to share their crop from top to bottom.
Vishu brings me a lot of nostalgia, waiting for the coins which appa gave us in the form of Vishukainettam. In the early hours of the morning we get up to see Vishukani. And we pray to God to keep us safe, happy and prosperous. And a yummy feast follows in the day. If you want to read ritual about Vishu, read here and here.
Vishu is unique festival compared to Onam our main festival as latter is celebrated everywhere, in home and outside (like office, public places) where as first one is only celebrated in home. Even southern and northern part of Kerala has its own difference in celebrating Vishu. In South, there will be, Vishukani ( (First thing seeing in the morning ), kaineetam (coin giving to younger ones by elders as a simple of sharing the prosperity) and feast, where as north it is celebrated with all these along with fire crackers.
This Vishu is extra special, as it is my Prince Nikhil’s first vishu. So I am planning to keep Vishukani and have a feast. Since my hubby is off for Friday I think I can make it with less hassle. It will be crazy; still I am going to make it.
For celebrating Vishu I made palpayasam, which is simple but delicious. We make this Payasam or pudding for marriage, feast or as offering in the Temple.
Especially Amabalpuzha palpayasam is very famous in Kerala, India. This is offered to Lord Krishna as a debt pay back by a king. Story behind that offering that, once Lord Krishna appeared before a king who is chess enthusiastic and was willing to play the game for few grains. King as happy and readily accepted the prize, but in the game he lost to God and when realized that it was not a few grains, he had to give but according multiplication of numbers in checkerboard. He didn’t have enough grain to give him. God told him, no problem he can pay back as palpaysasm as daily offering in the temple and it should be distributed freely to all his devotees. I read somewhere, now Payasam is not served free, it is sold.
Palpayasam is easy to make. You need to cook the rice in milk and then add sugar. This Payasam doesn’t have any add on like cashew nuts, raisins. It is not even flavored with any spices. Here goes the recipe.
One year ago: Chakka Pradhaman/ Jackfruit preserve pudding
Two year ago: Vishu a festival of agriculture and vishu feast
Print recipe from here
What you need
Milk: 4 cups/ 1 liter
Water: 2cups
Rice: ½ cup ( I used Payasam rice/Unakalari/ Short grain brown rice/ Raw rose matta rice)
Sugar: ½ cup
Ghee/Clarified butter: 1 tablespoon
How I made
Wash rice with water and set aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon of Ghee in thick bottomed vessel. Add water and milk together and when it reduced to ¾th add washed rice and cook until is ¾th done, rice should hold the shape it takes about 20 minutes. Stir in between so that rice won’t stick to the bottom of pan.
Then add sugar and cook for another 9 minutes or until milk reduced again and there is pink color change. Stir in between here also to prevent sticking at the bottom.
Switch off the flame once rice is completely cooked.
And serve once it is cold enough to touch.
Enjoy
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 serving
Verdict: Yummy
Will you make it again: Yes I will
Other items in the menu
Rice, Parippu curry ( Lentil curry), Sambhar, Aviyal, Amarakka Thoran (Guvar/ Cluster beans stir fry with coconut), Pineapple Plantain Pachadi, Okra kichadi, Banana chips, Sarakaravaratti,, Payasam, Banana, Mango pickle and Papadam ( Indian Wafers) ( for recipes take a look at here) .
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.
Lizzy says
What a delicious, celebratory dessert! Hope you had a wonderful Vishu~
Rasi says
Happy vishu swathi :).. the pays am has turned out so well.. my dad does it so well i miss it now seeing this.. love the uruli you have served it in
Ongoing Event : WTML
Treatntrick treatntrick says
Simple and so tasty!
Miriam says
Delicious! Happy Vishu Swathi :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
Srimathi says
Hi Swathi,
Happy Vishu to you too. I was wondering what payasam rice is. Is it long grain rice? I love pal payasam and make it often. This is a new way of preparation. Thanks for sharing.
Swathi Iyer says
Payasam rice is raw rose matta rice, available in Kerala.
Ramya says
Adipoli payasam! Kandittu kothi aavunnu! Belated vishu wishes:-)
Vimitha Anand says
Yummy and creamy payasam... Happy Vishu to u dear!!!
Home Cooked Oriya Food says
i love payasam too. looks so yum!
Happy Vishu to you too!
Sensible Vegetarian says
Payasam look superb. Happy Vishu wishes to you and your family Swathi.
Priya says
Happy Vishu wishes to you and your family Swathi..Rich looking super creamy payasam..
Vardhini says
Happy Vishu and the payasam looks yummy.
Vardhini
Event: Legumes
Event: Side Dishes
Rani acharyulu says
Hi Swathi happy Vishu to you and your family. Yummy payasam looks delicious in beautiful Urli.
Hema says
One of my favorite payasams, very perfectly done..
laurie says
oh my gosh this sounds so good, I have missed so many of your posts , I'm playing catch up, lots of yummy reading here!
Kaveri Venkatesh says
Nice post...Wishing you and your family a happy Vishu.
Hope you were able to prepare the sadhya and enjoyed with your family
Shobha says
Happy new year!
Delicious payasam...loved the traditional serving dish.
Uma says
A perfect recipe for the perfect day. Happy Vishu to you too..
PrathibhaSreejith says
Yummy payasam 🙂
Happy Vishu wishes to you and family Dear!!!!!
Sobha Shyam says
Happy Vishu dear..payasam looks super delicious 🙂