Festival Recipes, Indian Sweets, Kheers / Payasam

Arisi Kesari Paal Payasam | Saffron based milk pudding

Pinterest Hidden Image

A saffron-milk-rice pudding, Arisi Kesari Paal Payasam is a delicious kheer or payasam that can be put together quickly for festivals or celebrations.

Arisi Kesari Pal Payasam is another Payasam (Kheer / Indian Milk pudding) made for Aadi Velli and other chota-chota festivals at home or when you have unexpected guests . 

Arisi = rice, Kesari = kesar / saffron, Paal = milk, Payasam = kheer. 

Simple to make, it is unlike the traditional Kerala / Tamilnadu pal payasam and doesn’t use Condensed milk, but rather saffron to get that rich colour. The fresh aroma from saffron , milk and cooked rice is like a match made in heaven. Another quick to make Payasam / kheer is this Instant Pot Carrot Kheer (with a secret ingredient to make it super creamy)

A saffron-milk-rice pudding,Arisi Kesari Paal Payasam is a delicious kheer or payasam that can be put together quickly for festivals or celebrations.
Pin

Nostalgia about this Payasam

I remember growing up, cakes weren’t really part of any birthday celebrations and this payasam and semiya payasam (vermicelli kheer) were de rigour along with a vadai or some fritter, and we were pretty happy to lap it up. Come festivals esp Navaratri , these pasyasam / kheer varieties were made abundantly for naivedyam (offering to God) along with some for distribution amongst family and friends. Such simple happiness, wonder why we traded them for something so much complicated ! 

PIN FOR LATER

A saffron-milk-rice pudding,Arisi Kesari Paal Payasam is a delicious kheer or payasam that can be put together quickly for festivals or celebrations.Pin

Tips to make creamy Paal payasam (without using condensed milk):

  1. Use Full fat milk, boil and cool the milk before using, this way the payasam turns creamy
  2. Always wash the rice well and then soak in cold water for 20-30 mins prior to cooking, this will expand the starch once done
  3. Once the milk is added, turn heat to low, and keep stirring the kheer while it gently simmers. dont mix too much, the payasam will turn mushy and unpalatable
  4. For this kheer, short grained rice is best used
  5. You may use kandsari or brown sugar in place of crystal sugar if needed. I haven’t tried it but if you do, please leave a comment, thank you ????   

Other payasam / kheer varieties you may like on this blog

 Badam Semiya Payasam
 Badam Semiya Payasam is a sweet kheer or pudding made with roasted vermicelli, made with Durum Wheat and simmered in a thick flavoured almond rich milk, topped with nuts.
Check out this recipe
Badam Semiya Payasam is a sweet kheer or pudding made with roasted vermicelli, made with Durum Wheat and simmered in a thick flavoured almond rich milk, topped with nuts.
Instant Pot Vermicelli Kheer
A creamy payasam or kheer made in the Instant Pot with roasted vermicelli, milk and nuts. Served at festivals or special occasions. 
Check out this recipe
A creamy payasam or kheer made in the Instant Pot with roasted vermicelli, milk and nuts. Served at festivals or special occasions.

Let’s now see how to make it.

Prep time : 15 min, cook time : 20 min. Serves : 4

Cuisine – South Indian ; Course – Dessert / Sweet 

Ingredients to make Arisi Kesari Paal Payasam:

  • 1/2 cup Raw rice (short grained)
  • 750 ml Cow Milk (boiled and cooled ahead of prep)
  • 1/3 cup Powdered Sugar
  • 2 cardamoms (peeled and powdered)
  • 6 Saffron strands 
  • 1 TBSP Ghee (optional.)

How to make Arisi Kesari Paal Payasam:

  1. Soak rice for 30 mins, Cook rice with adequate water till done with 3 times water for 4 – 5 whistles (if using an open pan, soak rice for 20 mins
    and cook in adequate water till done).
  2. Add milk and cook this rice further for 5-6 mins till mushy. Now add powdered sugar with cardamom, and saffron strands. 
  3. Cook till sugar blends.
  4. Finish with a tsp of ghee if using and serve hot
Pin

Arisi Kesari Paal Payasam | Saffron based milk pudding

Kalyani
A saffron-milk-rice pudding, Arisi Kesari Paal Payasam is a delicious kheer or payasam that can be put together quickly for festivals or celebrations.
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Soaking time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert, Festival Recipes, Kheer
Cuisine Iyengar Cuisine, South Indian, Tambrahm
Servings 3 servings
Calories 367 kcal

Equipment

  • Pressure Cooker
  • Pots and Pans

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup Raw rice short grained
  • 750 ml Milk Full fat, boiled and cooled ahead of prep
  • 1/3 cup Powdered Sugar powder and measure to 1/3 cup, adjust sweetness
  • 2 Cardamom peeled and powdered
  • 6 Saffron Strands
  • 1 TBSP Ghee optional

Instructions
 

  • Soak rice for 30 mins
  • Cook rice with adequate water till done with 3 times water for 4 – 5 whistles
  • if using an open pan, soak rice for 20 mins
 and cook in adequate water till done
  • Add milk and cook this rice further for 5-6 mins till mushy. Now add powdered sugar with cardamom, and saffron strands.
  • Cook till sugar blends.
  • Finish with a tsp of ghee if using and serve hot

Notes

Tips to make creamy Paal payasam (without using condensed milk):
  1. Use Full fat milk, boil and cool the milk before using, this way the payasam turns creamy
  2. Always wash the rice well and then soak in cold water for 20-30 mins prior to cooking, this will expand the starch once done
  3. Once the milk is added, turn heat to low, and keep stirring the kheer while it gently simmers. dont mix too much, the payasam will turn mushy and unpalatable
  4. For this kheer, short grained rice is best used
  5. You may use kandsari or brown sugar in place of crystal sugar if needed. I haven’t tried it but if you do, please leave a comment, thank you ????    

Nutrition

Calories: 367kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 11gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 100mgPotassium: 439mgFiber: 1gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 418IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 331mgIron: 0.5mg
Keyword Arisi Pal payasam, Festival Recipes, Kheer, Pal Payasam, quick pal Payasam
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Tried this recipe?Follow @sizzlingtastebuds or tag #sizzlingtastebuds!

SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER

15 Comments

  1. MySpicyKitchen

    Pal payasam is moutwatering and saffron lent a nice color to the payasam.

  2. cookingwithsapana

    Pla payasam looks so tempting.

  3. Simple yet creamy payasam

  4. Gayathri Kumar

    Looks super inviting with those beautiful saffron on top..

  5. Love your presentation with Saffrons

  6. So creamy and delicious pal payasam.

  7. Wow such a delicious payasam. Looks yum the saffron has lent such a lovely colour

  8. Mayuri Patel

    5 stars
    All time favourite and easy to make. Arisi Kesari Paal Payasam looks so inviting. Kesar adds such a lovely flavour and aroma too.

  9. 5 stars
    Arisi Kesari Paal payasam sounds very exotic, rich and delicious..It is so much close to the kalkandu saadham that I make ..next time I will make this yummy paysam…may be for the upcoming Thai Velli this is a perfect choice.

  10. 5 stars
    My favourite payasa is Arisi Payasa and growing up my complaint used to be why make it for special occasions? I love the beautiful colour of the pasaya thanks to saffron.

  11. 5 stars
    Pal payasam looks so inviting. Loved the colour due to saffron. Its an all time favourite dessert. Also Loved the rich and creamy texture of your payasam.

5 from 4 votes

Thanks so much for dropping by.
We would love to hear how you liked this recipe.
Do take a moment to rate this recipe and leave a comment.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Recipe Rating