Ari Payasam ( Rice Payasam)

Ari payasam is a sweet desert made of rice and milk. you can call it a 'Rice milk pudding'. This is my Mothers recipe , which is the perfect choice  for someone like me, who loves easy cooking.

Aripayasam is a perfect desert for Sadya, and its true taste comes when you are enjoying it in the banana leaf.

Ingredients:

Milk – 4 cups

Rice – 2/3 cups (i used the red rice soaked in cold water for 30 minutes)
Water – 3 cups
Sugar – 1 cup
1/2 tsp cardamom powder or 2 cardamoms crushed

1/2 tsp Dried ginger powder/chukku podi
Cashew nuts – 5-6 (toasted in ghee)

Method:

Mix water and milk and cook in medium heat and stir occasionally until the volume reduces to half. ( you can also use 1 cup of evaporated milk to reduce the cooking time) . add rice to the milk and cook in medium heat till the rice is done. Add sugar and cook for another 15 min . Stir frequently. Add crushed cardamom and chukku podi. Remove the payasam  from the stove.

garnish with  toasted cashewnuts.  

Garnishing with chopped coconuts also gives a special crunchy taste to the payasam. Heat ghee in a small skillet and fry 2 spoons of chopped coconut and pour this over the payasam.