POPPY SEEDS KHEER/KASA KASA PAYASAM

Hi friends...

This is my first post. So I am starting with a sweet :) (traditional way to start something new) This sweet is something which i wanted to try for a long time, but made it possible few days back. I came across this recipe in a TV show. I have made my alteration to it and made it simple. (a reason to support my laziness :) )

I have never used poppy seeds or kasa kasa in my cooking till date. When I came to know about its health benefits, I was eager to try this.

Here is the recipe...

Preparation time: 45 min (includes 30 min of soaking)
Serves: 3

INGREDIENTS:

Milk -- 1.5 cup
Coconut milk -- 1/2 cup
Poppy seeds/Kasa kasa -- 1 tbsp
Sugar -- 1/4 cup
Cashews -- 10
Almonds -- 5
Raisins -- 5
Semiya/Vermicelli -- 3 tbsp
Saffron -- 4-5
Elachi/Cardamom powder -- 1 pinch
Ghee -- 1 tsp

Sorry for missing out semiya/vermicelli and cardamom powder in the pic.

Method:

1) Soak Kasa kasa, 6 cashews and 5 almonds in water for about 1/2 an hour. Dry roast the vermicelli/semiya and keep it aside.

2) Roast  the remaining 4 cashews and raisins in a tsp of ghee and keep it aside.

3) Mean while boil the milk. Let it simmer and reduce 1/4th of its quantity. It roughly takes about 15 min.

4) After half an hour, make a paste of the soaked ingredients. (almonds, cashews and poppy seeds)

5) Once the milk has reduced in quantity, add the ground paste, coconut milk, saffron, sugar. Let it boil for another 5 min. Then add vermicelli and let it cook for 5-7 more min.

6) After about 20-25min, the mixture would start to thicken. Add the roasted cashews, raisins and elachi. Wait for 2 min. Yummy and healthy kasa kasa payasam is ready to serve :)

Note:

-- I have added less sugar, as we dont like too much of sweetness in our sweets :) U can add 2 tbsp extra if u want it to be sweeter.

-- Traditionally jaggery is added instead of sugar, and coconut is added instead of coconut milk. 

-- Need not soak the saffron strands in milk seperately.

-- The payasam thickens later hence its better it to take it out when the mixture starts to thicken. 

Health Benefits of poppy seeds/kasa kasa:

-- Kasa kasa/poppy seeds helps in treating nervous disorders specially sleeplessness.

-- It helps in healing gastric and duodenal ulcers. It also helps in mouth ulcers.

-- They are rich in omega 3 fatty acid and oleic acid, which helps to lower LDL or "bad cholesterol" and increase HDL or "good cholesterol".

-- They contain good levels of minerals like iron. copper, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc and magnesium.