Kerala Paal Payasam in an Instant Pot & Pressure Cooker
Make this simple, easy paal payasam using only a handful of ingredients. The prep work takes less than ten minutes and the end result is worth the wait!
Servings 3
Ingredients
- 1 litre milk
- ⅓ cup broken matta rice
- ¾ cup sugar use between 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup depending on how sweet you like your payasam. 3/4 cup is really sweet!
- 1 tsp cardamom powder
- 2 tsp ghee
- few cashews for garnish optional
Instructions
- Soak the broken rice in water for 20 minutes.
Instant Pot Method
- To the Instant Pot, add ghee. Spread it on the base and then add milk, sugar, drained rice and mix well.
- Set it on the 'STEAM' mode for 25 minutes. Open after pressure releases fully.
- Ensure that the valve is in SEALED position.
- Open after pressure is fully released. Add cardamom, optional fried cashews and serve.
Pressure Cooker Method
- In a tall 3L cooker, add the milk and ghee. Let it come to a boil.
- Now, add the drained rice, sugar and close the cooker.
- Cook in low flame for 30 minutes. There is no need to count whistles, just ensure it is in low flame.
- Open after 20 minutes. Add cardamom, optional fried cashews and serve.
Garnish
- Fry cashews in ghee and add to the payasam
Notes
- For this recipe, full fat milk and white sugar ( or raw sugar ) is best suited.
- This payasam is SWEET! I would reduce the sugar to 1/2 cup or even 1/3 cup if you do not like your desserts very sweet.
- The consistency is thick for this payasam as it cools. The milk is reduced as well. So, if you prefer a more flowy consistency, add about 1 cup of boiled milk after it is fully cooked. You may need to adjust the sugar later.
- If you have whole matta rice, pulse it in a blender ( not into a powder) and use.
- The same recipe can be used for other short-grained rice like seeraga samba, ponni or sona masoori. For a long grain rice like basmati, reduce the cooking time by five minutes.
- To make it as a 'Kheer' add slivered almonds, saffron along with the cardamom and use broken basmati rice.