Paal Payasam is one of the very traditional desserts that is served at south Indian weddings and for special occasions. This Milk Kheer is a variation of the regular version and uses caramelized sugar which brings out a very different flavor.

I love Paal Payasam. The other day, one of my very good friends, Ramya back from my college had put a picture of her paal payasam and it looked delicious. I ask her for the recipe and she had made the Milk Kheer by caramelizing the sugar.

Caramelized Sugar Pal payasam in a bowl - 1

This Milk Kheer was something new that I have never done. In fact, I have never caramelized sugar before. This was my first attempt and the payasam tasted wonderful. It bought back memories of my native, where my patti makes the payasam by letting it simmer for hours. Preparation time - none Cooking time - 1 hr Difficulty level - medium

 Pal payasam ingredients in a bowl - 2

Ingredients to make Paal Payasam - (makes around 5 cups of Payasam)

  • Milk - 6 cups (I used 2 %)
  • Sugar - 1 ½ cups
  • Rice (washed and drained) - ½ cup
  • Raisins and nuts (optional) - to garnish
Ingredients for Milk Kheer in a bowl - 3

Procedure to make Paal Payasam -

  • Heat a heavy bottom pot or preferably a cooker for about 2 minutes. Once the cooker is hot, add about 3 tablespoon of sugar to it. Let the sugar melt and caramelize. Do not add any water. Just add the sugar and then the heat would do the trick and melt the sugar down. You will notice that as the sugar melts it becomes nice and golden.
Melting the ingredients in a cooker - 4 Mixing the ingredients - 5
  • Once all the sugar melts, add about ½ cup of water to it. When adding water, stand back and pour it in slowly as it might splatter. Now let the syrup come to a boil.
Add and boil the ingredients  - 6
  • To the boiling, syrup adds the milk and the washed rice. Close the cooker and let it cook on medium heat for one whistle. Then reduce the flame to simmer and let it cook further for 30 more minutes.

  • If you are making it in a pot, once the sugar caramelizes and you add the milk and the rice, transfer this to a vessel that would go into the cooker and proceed as described above.

Add the ingredients for Milk Kheer in a cooker - 7
  • After the steam releases open the cooker and add the rest of the sugar. Mix it well and let it come to a boil. Fry the nuts and raisins in ghee, if using and add it to the payasam. Simmer for about 15 mins and serve either hot or cold.
Caramelized Sugar Pal payasam is Ready to serve - 8

Notes and observations -

  • The flavor of the payasam was very different and distinct since we caramelized the sugar.

  • I do not add any other flavoring or garnish to paal payasam, since I like it as is. But if preferred, you could also add a pinch of cardamom powder and garnish it with nuts of your choice.

Similar Recipes

  • Rice Condé Sundae Recipe | Creamy Rice Pudding
  • Black Rice Pudding / Nap Naang made the Rongmei Naga Style
  • Sheer Khorma - Sheer Khurma - Dates, Milk and Vermicelli Pudding
  • Payatham Paruppu Payasam / Moong Dal (Pasi Paruppu) Payasam

Recipe

Paal Payasam /Milk Kheer in a bowl - 9

Equipment

  • ▢ bowl
  • ▢ Pressure Cooker
  • ▢ spatula

Ingredients

  • ▢ 6 cups Milk I used 2 %
  • ▢ 1 ½ cups Sugar
  • ▢ ½ cup Rice washed and drained
  • ▢ to garnish Raisins and nuts optional

Instructions

  • Heat a heavy bottom pot or preferably a cooker for about 2 minutes. Once the cooker is hot, add about 3 tablespoon of sugar into it. Let the sugar melt and caramelize. Do not add any water. Just add the sugar and then the heat would do the trick and melt the sugar down. You will notice that as the sugar melts it becomes nice and golden.
  • Once all the sugar melts, add about ½ cup of water to it. When adding water, stand back and pour it in slowly as it might splatter. Now let the syrup come to a boil.
  • To the boiling syrup add the milk and the washed rice. Close the cooker and let it cook in medium heat for one whistle. Then reduce the flame to simmer and let it cook further for 30 more minutes.
  • If you are making it in a pot, once the sugar caramelizes and you add the milk and the rice, transfer this to a vessel that would go into the cooker and proceed as described above.
  • After the steam releases open the cooker and add the rest of the sugar. Mix it well and let it come to a boil. Fry the nuts and raisins in ghee, if using and add it to the payasam. Simmer for about 15 mins and serve either hot or cold.

Notes

  • The flavor of the payasam was very different and distinct since we caramelized the sugar.
  • I do not add any other flavoring or garnish to paal payasam, since I like it as is. But if preferred, you could also add a pinch of cardamom powder and garnish it with nuts of your choice.

Nutrition

More Payasam, Kheer and Pudding

  • Carrot Kheer | Carrot Payasam
  • Semiya Payasam | Vermicelli Kheer
  • Turkish Semolina Pudding | Sutlu Irmik Tatlisi
  • Makhane Ki Kheer | Phool Makhana Kheer | Fox Nut Pudding
Paal Payasam /Milk Kheer in a bowl - 10

Paal Payasam /Milk Kheer made with Caramelized Sugar

Equipment

  • bowl
  • Pressure Cooker
  • spatula

Ingredients

  • 6 cups Milk I used 2 %
  • 1 ½ cups Sugar
  • ½ cup Rice washed and drained
  • to garnish Raisins and nuts optional

Instructions

  • Heat a heavy bottom pot or preferably a cooker for about 2 minutes. Once the cooker is hot, add about 3 tablespoon of sugar into it. Let the sugar melt and caramelize. Do not add any water. Just add the sugar and then the heat would do the trick and melt the sugar down. You will notice that as the sugar melts it becomes nice and golden.
  • Once all the sugar melts, add about ½ cup of water to it. When adding water, stand back and pour it in slowly as it might splatter. Now let the syrup come to a boil.
  • To the boiling syrup add the milk and the washed rice. Close the cooker and let it cook in medium heat for one whistle. Then reduce the flame to simmer and let it cook further for 30 more minutes.
  • If you are making it in a pot, once the sugar caramelizes and you add the milk and the rice, transfer this to a vessel that would go into the cooker and proceed as described above.
  • After the steam releases open the cooker and add the rest of the sugar. Mix it well and let it come to a boil. Fry the nuts and raisins in ghee, if using and add it to the payasam. Simmer for about 15 mins and serve either hot or cold.

Notes

  • The flavor of the payasam was very different and distinct since we caramelized the sugar.
  • I do not add any other flavoring or garnish to paal payasam, since I like it as is. But if preferred, you could also add a pinch of cardamom powder and garnish it with nuts of your choice.

Nutrition