Badam Kheer / Payasam is an exotic festive dish which is loaded with lots of richness and flavor .
It is very easy to make and has no fancy ingredients except almonds ,cardamom, milk and saffron strands. Sugar is used as a sweetener. Soaked almonds are ground to a fine paste with saffron and cardamom and simmered in boiling milk .
Mom used to stock up home made badam powder and I used to drink Badam milk during my school days as I was not a fan of malt based drinks . Badam payasam is an extension of Badam Doodh or Badam milk and a perfect dessert for all festive occasions or even get togethers .
Even beginners can easily make badam Kheer due to the ease involved in the making of this payasam. I prepared this yummy and aromatic badam Kheer for our Tamil New Year's festival today .
To know more about ,how we celebrate Tamil New Year (Puthaandu) and the delicious spread we prepare ,check this post here .
Cooking Time - 30 mins
Complexity- easy
Serves - 3 to 4
Ingredients
1/2 litre milk (preferably use 2% fat or full fat milk)
1/4 cup sugar
3 to 4 cardamoms
Few strands of saffron
Method
- Soak the almonds in hot boiling water for mini1 hr . You can soak for 2 to 3 hours also. Deskin the badams and discard the skin.
- In a blender add the badams, cardamoms, saffron ,1/2 cup milk and grind to a fine paste .
- Boil the 1/2 litre milk in a thick bottomed vessel . As the milk reaches its boiling point ,slowly add this badam paste and keep stirring on low flame and continue cooking until the raw flavor of almonds is lost .
- Lastly, add the sugar and continue to simmer till the kheer thickens . You can add some saffron strands while the kheer is simmering. Turn off the stove and let it come to room temperature.
- Serve this badam Kheer warm or chilled .