Paramannam (Sweet Rice Pudding)

Paramannam or Annam Payasam is a traditional sweet for festivals and poojas in South India. It is a must have for House warming/ Gruha pravesam. We prepared this today morning as prasadam to God on the occasion of Ugadi.




Ingredients:

Rice - 1 cup (washed and drained)
Milk - 4 cups
Sugar - 1 cup
Jaggery - 1 chunk (~ 3tsp)
Moong dal - 4no. ( Tradition, mom says don't ever offer plain white rice to God, add some colored dal to it, don't know why ????)
Cardamom (grounded) - 1/2 tsp
Cashew nuts and Raisins - for garnishing
Ghee - 1 tsp
Salt - a pinch

Instructions:

• Wash and soak rice in water for 10 min.s.
• Pour Milk in a bowl and bring it to boil. Add rice to the milk and cook until rice is soft, stir for every 4-5min.s so that rice will not stick to the bottom of the bowl. Cover the pan with lid for fast cooking.
• Add sugar and jaggery to the cooked rice mix and boil for another 5min.s.
• Add salt, which adds a great taste to the dish.
• Heat ghee in a pan and fry cashew nuts and raisins.
• Garnish the nuts and the cardamom powder on top of paramannam.