Friday, October 10, 2008

VijayaDashmi Special - Rava Payasam

As a child,festivals were the time we loved the most. Holiday from school.. special food at home and outing at evenings to temple.. We really looked forward to it. During Navrathri we usually have Ayudha Pooja at home and also "Nave javche" which means eating from new harvest.
Ayudha Pooja is performed at my mom's place every year. The previous day all the vehicles would get washed and polished neatly and get decorated with a flower garland for Pooja. The priest would come early in the morning at around 5:30 or 6 AM to perform the Pooja. Every vehicle would have a tilak of Kumkum.After performing Arati to all the vehicles he would touch a coconut to all the tyres of the vehicles and then hit it to the ground and chant mantras to ward off any forthcoming accidents or problems. A lemon and a piece of Ashgourd would be kept in front of each tyre of the vehicle and after the Pooja the vehicle would be started to pass of by these crushing them. It was fun to watch my dad,uncle (now my hubby too!!!) and brother's to take the vehicle over those as sometimes the vehicle would not just go over it if the piece was too big or the lemon would just roll away without getting Crushed!! 
In one of the nine days of Navrathri we would have "Navie javche" at our place. We usually had it on Vijaydashmi. New harvest is brought from Paddy fields or from temple. Along with few vegetables it is kept in front off Tulsi and a pooja is done. The paddy is wrapped in a mango leaf and tied to Rice containers, Rice cooking vessel,Tulsi etc. This is done to celebrate the new harvest. We usually make a sweet out of rice and different traditional items for lunch. 
We celebrated "VijayaDashami" and "Nave javche" yesterday. We did a small pooja at home and I made a few traditional items and Rava Payasam for nivedyam. I did not make Rice Payasam as I did not have turmeric leaves which give a nice aroma to the Payasam.
Rava Payasam is a simple dessert to make and eat too (You do not have to bite into it,except for cashews!) :) I personally prefer Jaggery+Coconut milk based Payasams than the milk ones and its healthy too.
Here is what's needed:
1/2 Cup Wheat Rava /Semolina
1/2 - 3/4 cup grated jaggery(adjust as per taste)
10-12 cashews halved & boiled
1 cup thick Coconut milk
1 -1.5 cup Water or thin Coconut milk
1/2 tsp Cardamom powder
Procedure:
1)Dry roast Rava/Semolina until fragrant.
2)Add boiled cashews and thin coconut milk/water to rava and cook until done. Add water if necessary.
3)Add grated Jaggery and stir until jaggery dissolves completely. Add Coconut milk and bring it to a boil it over a moderate heat. Add Cardamom powder and mix well. Take off the flame and serve hot!
The colour of the Payasam depends on the colour of Jaggery. Mine was light brown hence this colour.
I am sending this over to Sunshine mom's - TongueTicklers who is hosting Food in colours event and the choice of her colour is "Brown".

















I am also sending this over to Srivalli who is hosting JFI - Nov 08


















Update: I am also sending this over to Vaishali who is hosting Sweet Vegan Event. Thanks Vaishali for this wonderful event. Thank you Sunshinemom for reminding me to send this over to Vaishali.



7 comments:

Mahimaa's kitchen said...

never made rava payasam before.. urs looks very good.. i have tagged u for meme.

Unknown said...

Really excellant... nice entry... sounds deliicous...adding jaggery new for me...

Uj said...

Mahimaa, Thanks. I have taken up the meme
Sripriya, Do try it.Tastes good

Sunshinemom said...

Excellent, Ujwal!! I loved the vegan version, and I know Vaishu at Holy Cow! will love to show case it for her 'Sweet Vegan' event. Do send it to her too, and thanks for sending it to FIC brown:)

Srivalli said...

Thanks for your lovely entries!..both look awesome

Vaishali said...

Ujwal, Thanks for sending this lovely entry. Coconut milk is such a great milk substitute, and tastier, I think. The payasam looks delicious.

Uj said...

Sunishinemom,
Thanks for the lovely comment and also for the reminder :).. I did send it over to her :)

Srivalli,
Thank you :)

Vaishali,
Yep it is actually a great milk substitute. We use this more than milk. It tastes heavenly. Do try it :)