BITTERGOURD / PAAVAKKAI PAYASAM

Another unique payasam from sachu"s kitchen is bittergourd / paavakkai payasam.. this is prepared with brown sugar and dates. This recipe of mine is published in "Mathrubhumi Nagaram" malayalam news magazine on 30th august 2017 as onam special.

Yet another sweet dessert from our bitter vegetable. Try this paavakkai / bittergourd payasam  and enjoy the sweetness in bitterness. 

INGREDIENTS

 Finely chopped PAAVAKKAI / BITTERGOURD       - 1 cup

Chopped dates                                                                - ¼ cup

Milk                                                                                - half litre

Brown sugar                                                                   - ½ cup

Cardamom powder                                                          - ¼ tsp

FOR GARNISHING

Fried Cashews                                                                   - 10 nos

METHOD

Boil the chopped bittergourd in enough water.

Drain the water wash the boiled bittergourd and boil again with enough fresh water and discard the water.

Do the above process for 3 times, so then bitterness taste in bittergourd / paavakkai  taste will go.

Finally boil the milk and the cooked bittergourd and finely chopped dates to the milk and cook till dates becomes soft.

Add half cup of brown sugar to the boiling milk and cook in medium flame till you get desired consistency.

Add cardamom powder to the payasam.

Remove from fire and garnish it with  fried cashews.

Sweet Paavakai / bittergourd payasam is ready to serve.