ADA PRATHAMAN

Desserts are indeed the most favorite part of a meal and are therefore a delight to relish! One such sweet-dish recipe is the rich traditional Ada Prathaman popular in Kerala. This is a sweet treat of coconut milk, jaggery and rice ada....Perfect to be served on the auspicious occasion of Onam. Here I am prepared ada in the traditional way.

INGREDIENTS:

Unnakalari - 1 cup

Jaggery - 2 cup

Ghee - 1 tbsp + 1 tsp

Thin coconut milk (3rd pal) - 1 & 1/2 cup

Semi thick coconut milk (2nd pal) - 1 cup

Thick coconut milk ( 1st pal) - 1/2 cup

Cashews - 10

Rasins - 10

Coconut pieces - 2 tbsp (finely chopped)

METHOD:

Preparing Ada:

1. Soak rice for 1 hour.

2. Grind it to a fine paste by adding little water. The batter should be in idly batter consistency.

3. Spread it in a banana leaf (Vazhai Ilai) and roll it up gently and tie.

4. Drop slowly in boiling water or simply steam it for 10 mins.

5. Cook it for about 10 mins.

6. Run cold water over it or drop it in a bowl of cold water.

7. Unroll the leaf.

8. Now the rice batter turns to spring roll structure.

9. Drain it and keep aside. This is called ada.

Preparing Payasam:

10. Add jaggery to a heavy bottomed pan/uruli and add the water to it. 

11. Melt the jaggery over medium low heat.

12. Add the drained ada pieces to this and let it cook in it.

13. Once the mixture thickens a little, add ghee.

14. When it thickens, add the thin coconut milk(3rd milk). Bring down the heat to medium-low and cook until it thickens, stirring in between. 

15. Now add the semi thick coconut milk(2nd milk). Mix well and add cardamom powder.

16. When the ada mixture thickens, add thick coconut milk.

17. Cook for 1 to 2 mins at low heat and switch off the flame.

18. Meanwhile heat 1 tsp ghee, fry coconut pieces till golden brown , then add cashews and raisins. Fry till golden.

19. Add this to the payasam.

20. The flavour of coconut milk with the rice ada tastes divine. Enjoy the yummy payasam!!!!!!