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Cardamom Rice Pudding (Payasam)

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Cardamom Rice Pudding (<em>Payasam</em>)John Kernick

This is the South Indian equivalent of cake: essential at every wedding, birthday, and holiday. Indians like to serve it warm and soupy. This recipe is part of our menu for Sadhya, a South Indian feast.

Cooks' Notes:

•Indian ingredients can be mail-ordered from Kalustyans.com.
•Rice pudding can be made 1 day ahead and chilled. Reheat, thinning with warm milk, before serving.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    1 1/2 hours

  • Yield

    Makes 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

6 cups whole milk
2/3 cup long-grain white rice (not converted)
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup grated jaggery (unrefined brown sugar) or turbinado sugar (such as Sugar in the Raw)
1 tablespoon Indian Clarified Butter (Ghee) or melted butter
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup raisins

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring milk, rice, cardamom, cinnamon, and salt to a boil in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, stirring frequently, until rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Add sugar and cook, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.

    Step 2

    Heat ghee in a 10-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until hot, then cook almonds, stirring, until golden. Add raisins and cook, stirring, until coated with ghee and slightly puffed.

    Step 3

    Stir almond mixture into rice pudding and serve warm.

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