Carrot Sago Semiya Payasam

This is a recipe close to my heart. Why so? Because I made it up by chance. :) Sometimes, what you concoct without realising how the end result will look like turns out to be the best thing that you have done in your life! I would rate this as my best payasam effort so far. It is a mix of semiya payasam, sago payasam and carrot payasam put into one and the end result was really fantastic. We first had it as payasam then we waited for it to be solidified and had it as dessert for night as well. I had cooked this last Eid and whoever had it, really appreciated it, making me feel on top of the world.

Carrot Sago Semiya Payasam
Serves 4-6




Ingredients:

2 large carrot, peeled and boiled in 1 cup of water and cooled (I cooked it in the pressure cooker)
1/2 cup sago seeds
1 cup semiya (big vermicelli is the best)
1/2 coconut, grated
1 cup water for making coconut milk
500 ml milk
A pinch of cardamom
1/4 cup of sugar (increase/ decrease as per requirement)
10 cashewnuts
10 raisins
10 badams
4 tbsp pure ghee



Method:


Soak sago in some water for 15 to 30 minutes. Drain and then cook it in lot of water till you can see transparent balls. This may take upto 20 minutes. Once done, drain into a sieve and run cold water through it to avoid sticking. Reserve. 

Blend the grated coconut with the water. Sieve and reserve the coconut milk. 

Cook the carrots with some water (around 500 ml) in a pressure cooker. Allow to cool completely. Blend into a smooth paste. 

Heat 2 tbsp ghee in a saucepan till it heats, lower the heat, add the semiya and roast till done ensuring not to burn it. Upto 5 minutes should do. Add the milk and sugar and cook till the semiya gets almost done. 

Pour the carrot blend into this. Let it come to boil. Add cooked sago, sugar and cardamom and give it nice stir till all are well combined. Finally add the coconut milk, simmer for 5 minutes - do not boil and switch off. 

Finally heat the remaining ghee in a small saucepan, fry the nuts and raisins and dump into the payasam and give it one last stir.

Yummy carrot semiya payasam is ready to be served - can be hot or cold. Once cold, it tends to solidify, so you can make it into a pudding as well!!! To make it thinner, you can add warm water as required. 

Updated on June 7, 2015 with new pics and improved recipe! :)


Old Pic... :)

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