Payas – The Indian Dessert

This article was published by: Matthew

Share this content!

⚠ Note: for metric to imperial (or vice-versa) conversion please refer to our article on Cooking Measurements 101.
♼ Featured image may be generic and may not represent the (final) appearance of this recipe. Recipe origin is unknown, we claim no copyrights for this recipe.

About this recipe

In this blog post I will guide you thru the steps and ingredients needed to craft this recipe. Grab your favorite apron and let's start.
Payas is a traditional Indian dessert that is loved for its creamy and indulgent taste. Made with simple ingredients like rice, milk, and sugar, this recipe offers a delightful treat for those with a sweet tooth. The rice is cooked in milk until it becomes tender and the mixture thickens, resulting in a luscious and comforting dessert. Payas is often flavored with aromatic spices like cardamom or saffron, adding a unique touch to its rich flavor profile. Whether served warm or chilled, this dessert is perfect for any occasion.

Keywords: Payas, Indian dessert, creamy, rice, aromatic spices

Payas the indian dessert recipe details

Payas the indian dessert recipe, recipe Rating: 4.6
Number of votes:110

Just like Halloween is incomplete without pumpkins, an Indian festival is incomplete without this kheer. “Kheer” in Hindi denotes sweet pudding commonly referring to rice pudding. This pudding is commonly called “Payas” by Bengalis.
Ready in: 1 hour 10 mins

Ingredients

Serves: 2

• 1 teaspoon clarified butter (ghee)
• 1 tablespoon nuts (almonds, pistachios and cashews)
• 5 to 6 raisins
• 1/2 cup short grained rice
• 4 cups milk
• 1/2 cup sugar, or to taste
• 1 pinch saffron

Preparation method

Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 45 mins | Extra time: 10 mins, chilling

1. Melt the clarified butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir the nuts and raisins in the hot butter until the raisins get plump and the nuts turn reddish brown. Once done, remove the nuts from the saucepan.
2. Stir the rice into the saucepan, and cook over low heat 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in the milk, and increase heat to medium-high. Bring to a bare simmer. Give it an occasional stir so that the milk does not stick to the bottom. Take care not to let the milk burn. Even a little burn spoils the milk. Add sugar and give it a stir.
3. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the milk has reduced in half. Keep stirring often.
4. Stir in the remaining ingredients and half of the roasted nuts. Give it a stir until combined. Pour into a serving bowl and cool in the refrigerator 10 to 30 minutes.
5. Sprinkle with the remaining nuts to serve. You can serve it warm or cold, just not too hot.