Semiya Payasam & Rava Laddu

Semiya Payasam Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 lt whole milk (I used skimmed)
1 cup roasted semiya/vermicelli
2-3 tbsps sago/sabhudana/saggu biyyam (optional)
1/2 – 3/4 cup sugar (adjust)
1 tsp cardamom pwd
10-12 cashewnuts
1 tbsp raisin
1 tbsp ghee

1 Heat a pan, add a tbsp of ghee and toast the cashewnuts and raisins till golden brown. Remove from pan, keep aside.
2 In the same pan, add the vermicelli (if its not roasted vermicelli) and roast it for approx 4 mts till a nice aroma emanates the kitchen and it turns a light brown shade. Remove from pan and keep aside.
3 Take a cooking vessel, add the sago and three cups of water and cook for 5 mts, then add the roasted vermicelli and let it cook completely. Add sugar and milk and let it slowly simmer for another 7-8 mts, stirring it once in a while.
5 Add the cardamom pwd and toasted cashews and raisins. Serve warm or refrigerate until chilled. It tastes good both warm and chilled.

Rava Laddu Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup sooji/upma rava/semolina
3/4 cup sugar (increase according to your choice)
1 tsp cardamom pwd
few cashewnuts
few raisins
3 tbsps ghee
few tbsps milk

1 Heat a pan, add a tbsp of ghee and toast the cashewnuts and raisins till golden brown. Remove from pan, keep aside.
2 In the same pan, add the sooji and roast it for approx 7-8 mts till a nice aroma emanates the kitchen and it turns a light brown shade. Remove from pan and keep aside.
3 Take a vessel, add sugar, cardamom pwd, roasted sooji and remaining ghee and combine well. Sprinkle few tbsps of milk and mix till it forms a crumbly mixture.
4 Using both your hands, form small ladoos and top with a roasted cashewnut and raisin. While shaping the laddos be careful such that the mixture stays together. Initially the laddu might tend to break hence be gentle and place the laddu carefully on a plate and it will harden in a few minutes.