Paal Payasam is one of the very traditional desserts that is served at south Indian weddings and for special occasions. This Milk Kheer is a variation of the regular version and uses caramelized sugar which brings out a very different flavor.

I love Paal Payasam. The other day, one of my very good friends, Ramya back from my college had put a picture of her paal payasam and it looked delicious. I ask her for the recipe and she had made the Milk Kheer by caramelizing the sugar.

This Milk Kheer was something new that I have never done. In fact, I have never caramelized sugar before. This was my first attempt and the payasam tasted wonderful. It bought back memories of my native, where my patti makes the payasam by letting it simmer for hours.

Preparation time – none
Cooking time – 1 hr
Difficulty level – medium

Ingredients to make Paal Payasam – (makes around 5 cups of Payasam)

Milk – 6 cups (I used 2 %)
Sugar – 1 ½ cups
Rice (washed and drained) – ½ cup
Raisins and nuts (optional) – to garnish

Procedure to make Paal Payasam –

Heat a heavy bottom pot or preferably a cooker for about 2 minutes. Once the cooker is hot, add about 3 tablespoon of sugar to it. Let the sugar melt and caramelize. Do not add any water. Just add the sugar and then the heat would do the trick and melt the sugar down. You will notice that as the sugar melts it becomes nice and golden.

Once all the sugar melts, add about ½ cup of water to it. When adding water, stand back and pour it in slowly as it might splatter. Now let the syrup come to a boil.

To the boiling, syrup adds the milk and the washed rice. Close the cooker and let it cook on medium heat for one whistle. Then reduce the flame to simmer and let it cook further for 30 more minutes.

If you are making it in a pot, once the sugar caramelizes and you add the milk and the rice, transfer this to a vessel that would go into the cooker and proceed as described above.

Add the ingredients for Milk Kheer in a cooker

After the steam releases open the cooker and add the rest of the sugar. Mix it well and let it come to a boil. Fry the nuts and raisins in ghee, if using and add it to the payasam. Simmer for about 15 mins and serve either hot or cold.

Caramelized Sugar Pal payasam is Ready to serve

Notes and observations –

The flavor of the payasam was very different and distinct since we caramelized the sugar.

I do not add any other flavoring or garnish to paal payasam, since I like it as is. But if preferred, you could also add a pinch of cardamom powder and garnish it with nuts of your choice.

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Recipe

Paal Payasam /Milk Kheer made with Caramelized Sugar

Paal Payasam is one of the very traditional deserts that is served in south Indian weddings and for special occasions. This is a variation of the regular version and uses caramelized sugar which brings out a very different flavor.

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Course: Dessert, sweets

Cuisine: Asian, Indian, South Indian

Diet: Vegetarian

Cook Time: 1

Total Time: 1

Servings: Cups

Calories: 478kcal

Author: Sandhya Ramakrishnan

Equipment

▢
bowl
▢
Pressure Cooker
▢
spatula

Ingredients

▢ 6 cups Milk I used 2 %
▢ 1 ½ cups Sugar
▢ ½ cup Rice washed and drained
▢ to garnish Raisins and nuts optional

Instructions

Heat a heavy bottom pot or preferably a cooker for about 2 minutes. Once the cooker is hot, add about 3 tablespoon of sugar into it. Let the sugar melt and caramelize. Do not add any water. Just add the sugar and then the heat would do the trick and melt the sugar down. You will notice that as the sugar melts it becomes nice and golden.
Once all the sugar melts, add about ½ cup of water to it. When adding water, stand back and pour it in slowly as it might splatter. Now let the syrup come to a boil.
To the boiling syrup add the milk and the washed rice. Close the cooker and let it cook in medium heat for one whistle. Then reduce the flame to simmer and let it cook further for 30 more minutes.
If you are making it in a pot, once the sugar caramelizes and you add the milk and the rice, transfer this to a vessel that would go into the cooker and proceed as described above.
After the steam releases open the cooker and add the rest of the sugar. Mix it well and let it come to a boil. Fry the nuts and raisins in ghee, if using and add it to the payasam. Simmer for about 15 mins and serve either hot or cold.

Notes

The flavor of the payasam was very different and distinct since we caramelized the sugar.
I do not add any other flavoring or garnish to paal payasam, since I like it as is. But if preferred, you could also add a pinch of cardamom powder and garnish it with nuts of your choice.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @Sandhya.Ramakrishnan or tag #MyCookingJourney!

Comments

Prami Pramitha says

March 21, 2013 at 3:08 am

delicious payasam...
am your new follower...
https://pramithalovecooking.blogspot.com/

Nivedhanams Sowmya says

February 06, 2013 at 5:46 pm

wow very new type of payasam.... very different from the standard ones!!!
Sowmya
Ongoing Event - Tried and Tasted - Raks Kitchen
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Hamaree Rasoi says

February 06, 2013 at 2:18 am

I loved you way of preparation I mean caramelizing must have made this taste too good !! Lovely color

Latha Madhusudhan says

February 05, 2013 at 5:49 pm

Just feel like having it now.

Love to Experiment says

February 05, 2013 at 11:11 pm

Yummy. Caramelised payasam should be a dessert made in heaven. Lovely colour. Lovely payasam

EncourageSpice says

February 05, 2013 at 3:17 pm

I like the color of the payasam .looks very inviting.

Thanks for your lovely comments

Happy to follow you

Divya Pramil says

February 05, 2013 at 4:13 pm

A natural and pleasant color to payasam..Looks so inviting 🙂 I love paal payasam so this is a must try version 🙂

Priya says

February 05, 2013 at 3:55 pm

Very pleasing and irresitible payasam,love to have a huge bowl of it.

Anonymous says

February 05, 2013 at 2:25 pm

Sandhya, looks yummy !! I like the color..it looks like the red rice payasam that is made in kerala. Will try the recipe for sure. Thanks for posting.

Preeti Garg says

February 05, 2013 at 1:20 pm

Awesome recipe thanks for linking this recipe with my event.. for winning feb's month surprise giveaway.... collect more likes on your recipe

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Shruti Dhingra Wahi says

February 05, 2013 at 7:03 am

Hi Sandhya ...
New to your blog, Glad to follow you !!
Nice Blog, Plz do visit mine in your free time 🙂
ShrutiRasoi
Today's Recipe
Fruit Salad with Yogurt Dressing

Sangeetha Priya says

February 05, 2013 at 5:03 am

wow love this colorful payasam, yummy payasam dear 🙂

Swathi Iyer says

February 05, 2013 at 3:33 am

Caramelized sugar paayasam is wonderful idea Sandhya, yummy payasam.

Janani says

February 04, 2013 at 9:23 pm

wow loving the payasam .looks so good and tempting Sandhya.

Julie says

February 04, 2013 at 7:35 pm

looks super tempting payasam..Yummilicious!!
Flavors Of Cuisines-"Mexican"

Priya R says

February 04, 2013 at 12:29 pm

looks so different and must have been so good, lovely idea dear

- shasan18 says
  
  February 04, 2013 at 4:03 pm
  
  Thanks Priya! The flavor was different from the regular paal payasam I make. The caramelization made the payasam have a distinct flavor to it 🙂
  
Ramya Krishnamurthy says

February 04, 2013 at 12:26 pm

yummy and super payasam.try this method soon:)

- shasan18 says
  
  February 04, 2013 at 4:01 pm
  
  Thanks Ramya! It was indeed very delicious 🙂 Let me know how you liked it!
  
Kitchen Queen says

February 04, 2013 at 2:43 pm

love the color of the kheer.

- shasan18 says
  
  February 04, 2013 at 4:05 pm
  
  Thanks 🙂
  
Lakshmi Venkatesh says

February 04, 2013 at 12:50 pm

The colour of the Paal Payasam is very very nice.

- shasan18 says
  
  February 04, 2013 at 4:05 pm
  
  Thanks lakshmi!
  
Maha Gadde says

February 04, 2013 at 12:36 pm

very healthy n so tempting

- shasan18 says
  
  February 04, 2013 at 4:04 pm
  
  Thanks Maha! I give this payasam to my kids as their evening milk. The extra fat sure is good for the kids 🙂
  
priya satheesh says

February 04, 2013 at 6:03 am

Yummy yummy!!!

- shasan18 says
  
  February 04, 2013 at 4:01 pm
  
  Thanks Priya 🙂
  
Rafeeda A. Raheem says

February 04, 2013 at 5:00 am

beautiful color for the paal payasam... 🙂
https://sweettoothraf.blogspot.com

- shasan18 says
  
  February 04, 2013 at 4:00 pm
  
  Thanks Rafeeda!