Payasam is a sweet dish made of green gram, rice, bamboo seeds, wheat or various other grains. It’s a specialty of Kerala and very much part of a typical Kerala feast.

Ingredients:

½ cup green gram dal
1 cup melted jaggery
1 cup coconut milk
2 cardamom pods
½ spoon cumin seeds
Small piece dried ginger

Grind spices into powder. Roast green gram dal till it starts to change the colour and aroma. Wash it and remove stones. Cook it well, then add the melted jaggery. Cook until mixture is thick and starts to bubble. Pour in coconut milk, add the powdered spices, turn off the fire and keep the lid closed for 10 minutes. Stir it well so the coconut milk spreads evenly.