Pumpkin Payasam

Tomorrow, 𝟏𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎22 𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫. This date is the first day of the year on the Tamil calendar. Therefore, this date is celebrated by Hindus. Even though in Singapore it is not a public holiday, many families celebrate the day with temple visits, prayers at home, wear new clothes, visit their relatives and have a vegetarian feast!
Any Hindu celebration calls for a sweet start. Here I am sharing a recipe for Pumpkin Payasam. Pumpkin is an auspicious vegetable for Hindus because of the “saffron” colour. Personally, I love this sweet, fragrant and nutritious payasam and it is nice served hot or cold or with a dollop of vanilla ice cream!

𝗣𝗨𝗠𝗣𝗞𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗔𝗬𝗔𝗦𝗔𝗠
50 g sago
800 ml water
4 pandan leaves, tied into a knot
70 g jaggery
1/4 teaspoon salt
300 g steamed and mashed pumpkin
200 ml coconut cream
1 teaspoon cardamom powder
Pinch of crushed roasted cumin, optional
Fried almond slices
Fried raisins

METHOD
1.Boil sago in lots of water until transparent. Drain.
2.Put sago, water, pandan leaves, jaggery and salt to boil until the jaggery dissolves.
3.Add in mashed pumpkin, coconut cream, cardamom and roasted cumin powder.
4.Serve hot or cold.