Semyia Payasam (Indian Dessert)
India
Submitted by the family of Shahanaasree Sivakumar (BMS class of 2020)
Our Story
Semiya payasam is a traditional Indian dessert prepared with vermicelli cooked in milk and topped with cashews, raisins.
We always made this as an offering to god during auspicious days. We fast all day and during the sunset, we make this Payasam and offer to god and complete the fasting for the day.
This recipe is very old and special to our family. It’s been passed on from my grandmother to my mother and I watched her do this while I was growing up. One day I will do it and continue my family tradition.
Regards,
Sivakumar (Shahanaa's mom)
Ingredients
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
25 mins
4 cups milk divided (3 cups + 1 cup)
1 cup vermicelli (semiya)
1 cup water
6 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp condensed milk
1 Tbsp ghee (clarified butter), divided
10 cashews broken
For garnish (optional): raisins, pistachios and/or almonds to taste.
Recipe Instructions
1. Boil milk in a saucepan and keep it aside.
2. Heat ½ tablespoon ghee in a pan. Once it is hot, fry the cashews & raisins separately, until they all turn golden brown. Remove them from the pan and keep it aside.
3. In the same pan add the remaining ½ tablespoon ghee. Fry the vermicelli until it starts changing its color and becomes slightly golden. (This step can be skipped if using roasted vermicelli).
4. Then add 1 cup of water and 1 cup of boiled milk to the pan. Frequently stir the mixture else the milk will burn at the bottom.
5. Keep adding milk progressively as and when the mixture thickens. Add about 1-½ cup milk, and cook the vermicelli until it becomes soft.
6. Once the vermicelli gets cooked, add the condensed milk and sugar. Add the remaining ½ cup milk and keep it on the stove for few more minutes until the sugar dissolves.
7. Turn off the stove and add cashews, almonds, raisins, and pistachios. This thickens on cooling. Keep an extra cup of boiled milk at hand. So if you are serving later & it thickens, you can add some more milk (according to your consistency preference) and serve.