Akaaravadisil / Kalkanda saadam

Rice and dal cooked in milk and sweetened with sugar candy.

Recipe source : My athai / aunt, Mrs. Jaya Vaidyanathan.

Ingredients:

Rice - 1 cup

Cheruparippu / green gram dal - 1/8th cup

Milk - 3 cups + 1 cup

Kalkandam / sugar candy - 2 cups

Ghee - 1/2 cup

Cashew nuts - 10 to 15

Saffron - 1 pinch

Cardamom powder - 4, powdered

Method:

Fry the rice in a hot thick bottomed pan for 1 minute. Keep aside.

Fry the dal in the same pan till good smell comes. Add to the rice.

Now wash these 2 together and soak in water for 10- 15 minutes.

Pressure cook the drained rice - dal with 3 cups of milk for 5 whistles.

Please ensure that you take a deep vessel and fill only half way up and place this vessel covered inside the cooker. The milk will spill out otherwise.

When the pressure releases, check to see if the rice and dal are cooked well. Mash with a ladle. 

Add more milk and make it a thick pudding consistency.

Keep it back on the stove and bring to a boil.

Add the sugar candy and mix well.

Once the sugar melts, add the saffron and elaichi powder.

Mix well and turn off  flame.

Fry the cashewnuts in the ghee and add to the sweetened rice.