Amma's Paruppu Pradhaman ( (Lentil or Dhal Payasam/Sweet Pudding) - Kerala Style

My Mother's recipe

Amma's Paruppu Pradhaman ( (Lentil or Dhal Payasam/Sweet Pudding) - Kerala Style

Ingredients:

Lentils – 1 Kg – Can be Kadalai paruppu (Bengal Gram) or Siru Paruppu (Green Gram) or equal quantities of both.

(Roast the Dhal well, then wash it and soak it for atleast 3 hours. Then cook the dhal in a pressure cooker. Then either mash it or grind it coarsely.)

Sago (Javvarisi) – 200 gms
(Wash the Sago. Add 4-5 glasses of water and cook it till it becomes transparent. Add more hot water if required)

Coconut Milk – 1 big cup extracted from freshly grated Coconut. (must be kept in Refrigerator to avoid souring). Instead of fresh coconut milk you can also use the readily available Coconut powder which needs to be mixed in water.

Milk – 1 Litre

Jaggery – 1 – 1½ kg (melt the jaggery in 2-3 cups of water. Strain and keep aside)

Finely Diced Coconut – 1 cup

Cashewnuts – 1 Cup or as required

Raisins (optional) - 50 grams

Ghee – 150 grams

Oil (Sunflower or Rice Bran or Groundnut Oil) – 4 big spoons

Directions for cooking:

In a big vessel, pour 100 grams of ghee and the oil. Now fry the diced coconut and the cashewnuts to light brown. Then add the ground dhal and cook for about 15 -20 minutes. Keep stirring continuously to avoid it from burning.

Then add the cooked sago and mix well. Now mix in the melted Jaggery. Mix everything well. Pour the 1 litre milk and let it come to boil. Keep stirring occassionaly. Once it comes to boil, bring down the heat to low. At this point check for the sweetness and add more melted jiggery or sugar & mix well.

At low heat add in the coconut milk. Mix well and let it cook for about 2-3 minutes and remove from the stove. Do not let it boil.

Finally add the 50 grams of ghee and mix well.

Note:
Sago is optional and can be avoided.

You can replace the regular milk with coconut milk.
If using only coconut milk – you will need the milk of atleast 3-4 coconuts. The 1st , 2nd and 3rd extracts of milk from Coconut should be taken.
Instead of milk you can first add the 3rd extract. Once it comes to boil, you need to add the 2nd extract and bring it to the boil.
Finally add the thick first extract. Take it from heat after a couple of minutes.

This can be served hot or cold as per your taste. 

"Make it with love and care and it will definitely come out great"