Arisi Thengai Payasam | Traditional Rice and Coconut Pudding Recipe | Rice and Coconut Kheer using Jaggery

Hi Supermoms,

'Payasam' or 'Kheer' is made on festival days, Pooja days and on special occasions. 'Arisi' means 'Rice' and 'Thengai' means 'coconut'. So, the main ingredients of this payasam are rice and coconut. This is a traditional recipe and  jaggery and coconut milk  is used to make the payasam, which makes it more tasty as well as healthy. This payasam is gluten free and can be made completely vegan.

The payasam is simple to make and hardly takes any time. So, when you are planning to make a healthy payasam, try this Arisi Thengai Payasam. Try to use freshly extracted coconut milk, which increases the taste of this payasam. 

Arisi Thengai Payasam:

Preparation time : 10 minutes

Cooking time : 25 minutes

Serves : 2-3

1 Cup = 250 ml cup

Ingredients :

1/4 cup raw rice 

1/4 cup fresh coconut ( chopped)

3/4 cup jaggery ( powdered)

2 &3/4 cup water 

1 cup coconut milk 

2 green cardamoms ( finely powdered)

For garnish ( you can use dry fruits of your choice) :

1 teaspoon ghee ( or coconut oil , for vegans)

1 teaspoon coconut ( slivered)

4-5 pistachios ( chopped)

6-7 raisins 

Method: 

1. In a pan or kadai,  dry roast the rice till they are fragrant and transfer it to the jar of a mixer.

Chef tip : You can roast the rice using 1/2 teaspoon ghee for more flavour.

2. In the same pan heat ghee/oil and roast the dry fruits for garnish and set them aside.

3. Add the chopped fresh coconut along with rice and grind them to a coarse powder.

4. Heat water in the kadai and add the jaggery.

5. Once the jaggery melts completely, filter the jaggery water for any impurities.

6. Place the kadai with the jaggery water on medium flame and when it starts boiling , add the ground rice and coconut mixture little by little and keep stirring continuously, so that there are no lumps .

7. Cook till the rice is completely boiled.

8. Add the cardamom powder , mix well and switch off.

9. You can add the roasted dry fruits to the payasam. 

10. Once the payasam cools down a little , stir in the coconut milk. 

Delicious, traditional Arisi Thengai Payasam is ready to be served for Neivedyam ( offering) or for your special festival lunch. 

Happy Cooking !

With love,

Masterchefmom