January 23, 2007

Paliayakka/ Sago or Tapioca Pearls Payasam


Thanks to all you who made me smile throughout the day with your near correct, imaginative, funny, not anywhere near correct combinations. I never there would be such a response. Makes me almost want to create an event about guessing! And all because I was too lazy to write the recipe down and so just posted the picture!

I thought it would be sadistic if I kept up the secret today too so while I don't have the time for the full recipe now, let me just introduce you to another Malabar speciality.

It is indeed Sago Payasam, called Paliayakka, a probable corruption of the word Pal-Vayakka (Milk-Plantains). It is made of sago pearls(Tapioca pearls or sabudana),sugar,fennel seed powder, coconut milk,and plantains.
The sago pearls are cooked till transparent in the second milk of coconut and then the first milk, sugar and ripe plantains are added and allowed to simmer just until the plantains barely cook. When is is hot, it has a silken texture with all the bubbles and milk and when it is cold, it sets into a pudding.

It is also called Bubble Payasam by my son. He doesn't care for the bananas but its the bananas and fennel seed powder that gives its unique taste.
I will surely add the recipe today. Meanwhile, do check out our post on some luchboxes at the Daily tiffin.....
You will Need:
Sabudana or Tapioca Pearls-1 cup
Thick Coconut Milk-1cup
Thin Coconut Milk-2 cup (or 1-2 cup coconut grated)
Sugar-8 tbsp( adjust as per taste)
Ripe Plantain-1 cut at an angle into 5 thick pieces.
Shallots-1
Fennel Seeds-1/2 tsp
Cardamom-3 crushed.

Preparation:
1. Grind the coconut with the fennel seeds, cardamom, shallot and 1 cup warm water. Extract the thick first milk and keep aside. Add one more cup of water to the coconut, grind again and extract as much of the second milk as you can. If you are using frozen coconut, ensure that the coconut is defrosted and soaked in warm water
to maximise the milk. If you grind it without defrosting properly, it will curdle into oil. If you are using coconut can milk(don't :( ),mix one quarter of the can with water to thin it. Grind the seeds and shallots seperately and add to this half of the milk and strain it through so no bits remain.

2. Cook the sabudana in the second milk (or even water) in a pressure cooker and allow only 2 whistles. When it cools, open it and check if all the bubbles look tranparent. If they look white in the middle,there is some cooking left so add more liquid and let it simmer for another 5-8 minutes.

3. Now add the sugar, the plantain slices and the thick milk. Adjust the quantity of the milk so that it looks really fluid.
The payasam will thicken later and is best eaten hot, so when serving later, you may need to microwave it.

Note-Worthy Points:
The liquid need is approximately 3 times the quantity of the sabudana. The sugar retards the cooking, so add that only after the sabudana is fully cooked. There is a very thin line between fully cooked sabudana and over cooked sticky, gummy sabudana so take care as it nears completion.

Bubble Payasam:
This is my son's version of the payasam. Cook the sabudana with 1cup milk thinned with 1 1/2 cup water in the pressure cooker for 2 whistles. Add 1/3 cup(or more) condensed milk and 1 cup milk to the cooked sabudana. Add either cardamom powder or vanilla essence to flavor it. The payasam should be really liquid so adjust the quantity of milk. Serve hot or cold.
There is a egg added pudding version of this, sold as Tapioca Pudding in Grocery stores, which everyone in my family loves. It involes adding warm beaten egg to the cooked pearls but I haven't mastered that so no recipe for that as yet.

41 comments:

Mrs. K said...

sago/sabudana payasam?

are those ripe plantain in it?

Anonymous said...

I'm sure it sabudana with milk, nut and raisins no idea about the middle one.

Anonymous said...

Milk based dessert with sago, pineapple.

Bong Mom said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Bong Mom said...

so let's guess... milk, potatoes ??? Can there be such a combo ? no clue

Bong Mom said...

Just guessing... milk, potatoes, banana ??? no clue

Unknown said...

Hey ..is that puran poli or laddu in sago payasam/pal payasam?..

Anonymous said...

it is pazha pradhaman


bye
nandu

Krithika said...

sago with jackfruit ?

Inji Pennu said...

sabudana? ice cream?

Anonymous said...

It looks like sago payasam with banana?

Anonymous said...

sago and pineapple payasam?h

Nidhi said...

Sabudane ki kheer??

Vani said...

sabudana, mango chunks with some pomegranate?

Anonymous said...

Sabudana payasam with ice cream or custard?

Umm Maryam

Anonymous said...

Hi I think this is siruberu(moong dal) payasam with bananas in it. If it is right its my favorite payasam.

Gattina Cheung said...

I think I see sago and mango.

Anonymous said...

hi i think this payasam is made with coconut milk ,moong dal,vellam(jaggery) and fried coconut pieces. Is it right. We call it Serubaru payasam(moong dal payasam)

Unknown said...

Sago kheer with custard!!!!!

Anonymous said...

sabudana kheer with mango icecream

Anonymous said...

sago payasam with fried cashew,some fruits and with
a dollop of butter to top it...
so if i'am correct u sending me some?? even if i'am wrong i don't mind having some, as looks delicious
ki

Anonymous said...

sago and pineapple????

sra said...

sago, milk, cardamom, raisins, mango or jackfruit? Or a scoop of ice-cream?

Anonymous said...

I think it is sago plantain payasam.

Priya

Anonymous said...

Bubble payasam!!!! Thats so sweet!!!! You mum and son have unique ways of describing food :) First it was soldiers and glaciers and ow its bubble :D !!!

Sounds like an interesting sweet dish!!! I always have the sago payasam at komalas which they serve with saapat :) Lick it till the last drop!!!! ;)

I will try this for sure. :)

Can also use the readymade coconnut milk right???

Anonymous said...

No wonder google didn't know anything about "Paliayakka", hmmm it is a very wisely created word. Never tasted this combo. Will try.
Have you heard "chavvari"? Is it another word for sago? any idea?

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

hmmm..delicious,Shaheen...

sra said...

nice, v unusual

Bong Mom said...

Hey RP had the same problem as I did...
Google didn't show up anything for Paliyaakka but now it will sure do :)
Loved "Bubble Payasam"

Menu Today said...

Hi,
Payasam looks delicious...

indosungod said...

Shaheen Sago Payasam makes kids happy, mine love it and you son's name for it Bubble payasam is sweet. I make this with milk never tried it with coconut milk.

Sri said...

Sago payasam looks yummy!! i remember my granny making this kind of payasam for breakfast :) but without sago i use to love it.

Mandira said...

sabudana payasam looks delicious shaheen. I have a bottle of sagu sitting at home... this will be our weekend dessert!

Gattina Cheung said...

oh I should have thought of plantains *try to cover up myself, hehee* Guessing game is a good idea!

Shah cooks said...

thanks for all your comments.I hope u don't mind me not answering each of them this time.:)

Revathi said...

Ok. u came in my dreams.. I read this post and went to sleep guess what u are meeting me at my home.. seemed like a big apartment complex.. and we discover we live opposite to each other.. u live in another apartment complex across the road.. I distinctly remember u having very very curly hair..funny and i woke up smiling !!

Anonymous said...

hi

shaheen, have you tried to make diamond cuts(aaran number)...do u remember what was the black thing they put in the dough which is made using maida...
thanks
nandu

Anonymous said...

Sabudana payasam is a novel dessert. Chk out here for sago idli which is another creative way of preparations with sago (Sabudana)by chitvish

http://www.indusladies.com/forums/8249-post104.html

Mishmash ! said...

enikku ethu kandu...vaayichu kothiyayee....:( had an overdose of coconut milk this week.....may be i need to wait ...:(

Anonymous said...

I love all your recipes, tried out a few came out excellent. Thankyou very much... Will try this payasam tomorrow.

Mona