Palada Pradhaman, Kerala Palada Pradhaman Recipe, Palada Payasam

Recipe for Kerala style Palada Pradhaman made using condensed milk. Malayalam playback singer Kaushik Menon recipe.

I saw this recipe for palada pradhaman long time back on a television show where Playback singer Kaushik Menon made this amazing Palada Pradhaman. This is my favorite Payasam / Pradhaman. I have a story behind Palada Pradhaman.

When I was young, we used to get a children’s magazine called Gokulam. One of the stories in that magazine long time back was about this Payasam. Here is the story. There was this boy in a small town in Tamilnadu who loved Payasam. He loved all kinds of Payasam. Milk based, lentil based – he loved it all. The only Payasam he never had was Palada Pradhaman. He always longed to try this one. He comes to know about a grand wedding where Palada Pradhaman was going to be served as the final dessert. Being summer holidays, he accompanies the wedding photographer as an assistant. So he could get to taste the Palada Pradhaman. On the wedding day the photographer tells the cook/chef that he would be the last to eat after taking all the photographs. But he wants everything on the menu served and asks the chef to keep his portion aside so he does not miss anything on the menu. The boy is happy. After the long session of photos after photos, finally they go and sit to eat. They are the last ones in the dining hall. Banana leaf was spread and the feast was served. Dessert time came. The Photographer stood up to go and wash his hands. The boy was like, Stop! Stop! Dessert has not come yet. The photographer said “Oh yeah! I am a diabetic. So I don’t take desserts. I told the chef to keep everything but dessert. Sorry I totally forgot about you.” The boys dreams were shattered. He rushed into the kitchen to get his share of Pradhaman. But to his disappointment all the Pradhaman was long gone and the empty Payasam copper vessel lay there. His Pradhaman hunt continued…..This story has stuck to me at the back of my mind. Every-time I eat Palada Pradhaman, I think about that little boy who never got to taste the Pradhaman that day. This Palada Pradhaman is for him.

We will be using store bought dried Ada to make our Payasam today. Wash Ada in running water. Soak it in boiling water for 20 minutes. The Ada should puff up after soaking.

In the mean time bring the milk to a boil. Once the milk is boiling, drain the Ada and add it to the pan. Let it boil for 5 minutes. Keep stirring, else the Ada will stick to the bottom.

Add in the sugar and condensed milk. Stir well.

Let the mixture boil for 5 more minutes until it becomes little thick. Switch off the flame.

Heat a pan and roast the cashew-nuts in ghee until the nuts are slightly brown. Add it to the Pradhaman.

Grind the cardamom pods to a very fine powder. Add it to the Pradhaman and mix well.

Drumroll please!!!!!!! Awesome Palada Pradhaman is ready.

You can serve it hot or cold. I like to serve the Palada Pradhaman chilled. I think it tastes so good when its cold.

For soaking Ada

• 1/2 cup ( 125 ml) Ada
• 500 ml Boiling water

For the Payasam

• 500 ml Whole milk
• 2 tablespoon Sugar
• 250 grams Condensed milk
• 4 Cardamom, finely ground

For Tempering

• 2 tablespoon Ghee
• 2 tablespoon broken Cashew-nut

1. Wash Ada in running water. Soak it in boiling water for 20 minutes.
2. In the mean time bring the milk to a boil. Once the milk is boiling, drain the Ada and add it to the pan. Let it boil for 5 minutes.
3. Add in the sugar and condensed milk. Stir well.
4. Let the mixture boil for 5 more minutes until it becomes little thick. Switch off the flame.
5. Heat a pan and roast the cashew-nuts in ghee until the nuts are slightly brown. Add it to the Pradhaman.
6. Grind the cardamom pods to a very fine powder. Add it to the Pradhaman and mix well.
7. Palada Pradhaman is ready. You can serve it hot or cold. I like to serve the pradhaman chilled.

• Author: Kannamma - Suguna Vinodh
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins
• Category: Dessert
• Cuisine: South Indian, Kerala

For soaking Ada

• 1/2 cup ( 125 ml) Ada
• 500 ml Boiling water

For the Payasam

• 500 ml Whole milk
• 2 tablespoon Sugar
• 250 grams Condensed milk
• 4 Cardamom, finely ground

For Tempering

• 2 tablespoon Ghee
• 2 tablespoon broken Cashew-nut

1. Wash Ada in running water. Soak it in boiling water for 20 minutes.
2. In the mean time bring the milk to a boil. Once the milk is boiling, drain the Ada and add it to the pan. Let it boil for 5 minutes.
3. Add in the sugar and condensed milk. Stir well.
4. Let the mixture boil for 5 more minutes until it becomes little thick. Switch off the flame.
5. Heat a pan and roast the cashew-nuts in ghee until the nuts are slightly brown. Add it to the Pradhaman.
6. Grind the cardamom pods to a very fine powder. Add it to the Pradhaman and mix well.
7. Palada Pradhaman is ready. You can serve it hot or cold. I like to serve the pradhaman chilled.

• Author: Kannamma - Suguna Vinodh
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins
• Category: Dessert
• Cuisine: South Indian, Kerala

Find it online : https://www.kannammacooks.com/palada-pradhaman-payasam/

This is another great school lunch box meal idea. My son has this thing about lunch box. When its a Sandwich, Roll or a Quesadilla, he completes his lunch. He likes the “hold in your hands factor” about the meal. Whenever I send him food that needs a spoon, 40% will come back home unfinished. He will have his own reasons for having not finished his lunch. I am sure I am not alone. So I am always looking for more ways to send healthy sandwiches to school. Doing the sandwich this way helps in keeping the stuffing intact and not spill while eating. Here is how you can put together a great Mushroom Quesadilla in no time.

There is essentially only 5 ingredients in the Mushroom stuffing excluding salt and pepper.

Heat oil in a pan and add in the chopped onions and the finely sliced mushrooms. Add in the salt, pepper and the Italian herb seasoning all at once. You can use any store bought dry herb seasoning mix. The mushrooms will reduce a lot in volume when cooked. Keep sauteing until the onions and mushrooms are cooked and the mixture is dry and light brown. It will take about 6-7 minutes in medium flame.

Add in a tablespoon of All purpose flour (Maida) and fry for a minute.

Add in the water and stir well for 15 seconds until it forms a thick mixture. Switch off the flame.

The mushroom filling is ready.

Putting together the sandwich

Take a cooked Chapati and place 2 tablespoons of the filling on one half of the chapati. Add cheese if you wish. Slightly wet the edges of the chapati with water. Fold the chapati like a half moon. Using a fork, press the corners to seal the chapati.

Heat a pan and place the chapati on the pan and cook for 30 seconds on each side sprinkling little oil.

Remove the chapati sandwich from the pan and let it cool slightly. Cut it into half. Mushroom Quesadilla Sandwich is ready!

For the Mushroom Stuffing

• 2 Tablespoon Peanut / Vegetable Oil
• 200 grams Button Mushrooms, finely sliced
• 2 medium sized Onions, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon All purpose flour (maida)
• 1/4 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning mix
• 1/2 cup ( 125 ml) water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

For putting together the sandwich

• 6 Chapatis
• 3 teaspoons Vegetable Oil
• 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese for filling

The Mushroom Filling

1. Heat oil in a pan and add in the chopped onions and the sliced mushrooms. Add in the salt, pepper and the Italian herb seasoning all at once.
2. Keep sauteing until the onions and mushrooms are cooked and the mixture is dry and light brown.
3. Add in the All purpose flour (Maida) and fry for a minute.
4. Add in the water and stir well until it forms a thick mixture. Switch off the flame.
5. The mushroom filling is ready.

Putting together the sandwich

1. Take a cooked Chapati and place 2 tablespoons of the filling on one half of the chapati. Add in the cheese.
2. Slightly wet the edges of the chapati with water.
3. Fold the chapati like a half moon.
4. Using a fork, press the corners to seal the chapati.
5. Heat a pan and place the chapati on the pan and cook for 30 seconds on each side sprinkling little oil.
6. Remove the chapati sandwich and cut into half.
7. Mushroom Chapati Sandwich is ready!

• Author: Kannamma - Suguna Vinodh
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins
• Category: Sandwich
• Cuisine: Indian