Ingredients:

Thin vermicilli - 200gms
Sugar - 3 cups
Sweetened condensed milk - 200gm
Milk - 1 litre
Ghee(clarified butter) - 3 tbsp
Unsalted raw Cashew nuts - 50gms
Black raisins - 50gms
Cardomom powder - 1tsp

advertisement

Method: Take a heavy bottom flat vessel. Add the ghee. Fry the cashew till golden brown and remove. Add the raisins and stir for a minute and remove. Add the vermicilli and roast till golden brown. Add more ghee if required. Add the sugar and stir for 5 minutes. Be careful that the sugar does not stick to the vessel. Add the milk and stir on low flame. Take another pan and boil 3 cups of water. Off the gas and add the sweetened condensed milk to the water and dissolve it. Meanwhile the milk would be boiling. Check if the vermicilli is cooked. Do not over cook it. It should be just done. Add the diluted condensed milk and keep on stirring. Check the sweetness. Add more sugar if needed. Keep on stirring till the mixture starts getting thick. Turn off the gas. Add the fried cashew nuts and raisins. Add the cardomom powder and keep covered. Can be served hot or chilled. If the mixture gets thick add some boiled milk to the payasam.
Sreedevi Pillai

---