Paramannam(Sweet Rice Pudding)

In India the word festival is synonymous with the word excellent food. There is no celebration considered complete unless and until rich food is served among friends, family and relatives. Lots of cooking of good quality food is done and served on festival days.
This dish is prepared as an offering to God in every home and temple of south India on any festive occasion like this.

Paramannam

I made this on Ganesh Chaturthi, and it was loved by every one!

Ingredients:
Rice: 1 cup
Milk: 4 cup
Jaggery: 1 cup
Cashew Nuts: fistful
Raisins (Seedless): 1/4 fistful
Cardamom (powder): 1/2 teaspoon
Clarified Butter(Ghee): 1/2 tablespoon

How I did it:

1. Wash and soak rice in two cups of water for about fifteen minutes.
2. In a small sauce pan, bring to boil half a cup of water and crushed jaggery. Lower heat and slowly simmer until the syrup is sticky (if a drop is taken between the thumb and fore finger, it should feel sticky but not stretch out like a thread).
3. Remove from heat and keep aside.In another sauce pan, bring milk to a boil.
4. Drain water from the rice and add to the milk. Lower heat to medium and cook until the rice is done and the mixture looks thick.
5. Remove the sauce pan and allow to cool for a minute or two. And now add the cooled jaggery syrup from the smaller sauce pan. Stir well. Keep aside.
6. Now, in a small skillet heat clarified butter/ghee and when hot, add cashew nuts. Fry for a minute or two until the nuts change colour to pale brown. Add raisins and stir for a minute.
7. Remove from heat and pour the contents of the above skillet into the sauce pan containing rice mixture. Also, stir in cardamom powder. Keep covered for two minutes.
8. Serve hot along with melted clarified butter on the side.

Paramannam

Additional Information:
Occasionally, when jaggery syrup is added to the rice mixture, the milk splits. This could be because of two reasons:

1. The jaggery is adulterated.
2. The rice mixture is too hot and when mixed with jaggery syrup results in the milk splitting. Hence, it is advised to add jaggery syrup to rice only after it has been allowed to cool for a minute or so.

And the Verdict:
It is enjoyed by people who have a sweet tooth like me :)
Utterly delicious!!!

Food Event:
This is my entry for the Ganesh Chaturthi event being hosted by Latha of The Yum Blog.