Pumpkin payasam

Pumpkin payasam is an easy, tasty and healthy payasam suitable for adults and children alike. 

This recipe uses seasonal and easy to source ingredients. No Sadya is complete without payasam. So try this organic and healthy payasam for Onam 2019! 

Ingredients

Grated pumpkin, 500 g
Ghee, 3+1 tbs
Jaggery, 350 g
Water, 2 cups
Sago, 2 tbs
Coconut milk (thin), 2 cups
Coconut milk (thick), 1 cups
Dry ginger powder, 1 tsp
Cardamom powder, 1 tsp
Cashew nuts, ½ cup
Thinly sliced coconut pieces, ¼ cup

Note: Use small sago pearls and Marayoor jaggery is possible. If fresh coconut milk is unavailable you can use canned varieties. Remember to use a mature pumpkin.  

Preparation:

• Crush the jaggery and boil in a saucepan with one cup of water. Stir until the jaggery is completely melted. Drain into another container for removing all the impurities and set aside.
• Heat one cup of water in another saucepan and add washed sago. Boil for ten minutes on a low flame. Stir to avoid sticking. Set aside and stir occasionally with a spoon.
• Heat three tablespoons of ghee in a thick and large saucepan or otturuli.
• Add pumpkin and sauté for ten minutes until the pumpkin softens or cooks through.
• Add jaggery and stir continuously until it thickens.
• Add thin coconut milk and stir again to avoid burning.
• Once heated, add sago and mix well. Stir continuously to attain a thick consistency.
• Add thick milk and heat; do not boil!
• Add cardamom and dry ginger powder, then remove from flame.
• Heat one tablespoon ghee in a pan and fry the coconut until light brown and drain. Fry cashews in the remaining ghee.
• Stir into the payasam. Your Pumpkin Payasam is ready!
• Enjoy with Onam Sadya. Wishing you all a Happy Onam 😊 Please share and comment. Thank you!