Paal Payasam / Semiya Payasam / Vermicelli Kheer - Tamil New Year special

I am wishing  my viewers,friends and all my well wishers a "Happy Tamil New Year "
Paal Payasam is a traditional South Indian dessert,which occupies a significant space in festive menu. We are offered these payasams,right from our childhood. So we have developed great love for this dessert .  How many of you are aware ,that the best companion of payasam ,is Pappad . I doest know about this combo , till I came to my In law's house.When I saw my H and their family crushed pappad in payasam and had it, I was quite  puzzled. When I tried my hand in breaking the pappad and having it, I was totally indulged in its taste. One can have a crunchy and creamy payasam in a single sip. Right after that,I  always fry pappad for payasam. Wanna give it a try ? Come and have it .

Ingredients:
1.Vermicelli           -        1/2 cup
2.Sugar                 -         3/4 cup
3.Water                -          1 cup
4.Milk                  -           1 cup
5.Coconut milk     -          1/2 cup (optional)
6.cardamom pwdr -         a pinch
7.Salt                    -         a pinch

For garnishing:
1.Cashews            -        1 tbsp
2.Raisins                -        1 tbsp
3.Saffron                -        a pinch (optional)
4.Ghee                   -        2 tbsp

Served in a traditional way.

Method:
* Take a pan,add ghee .
* Fry the cashews to golden brown.
* Remove, cahews and fry the raisins ,till it blows like a balloon.
* In the same pan,fry the vermicelli ,till it becomes golden.
* When the vermicelli is fried,remove it and keep it aside.
* Now add water to the pan and bring it to boil.
* Add the fried vermicelli and cook it covered.
* When the vermicelli is half cooked,add ,milk and simmer the stove.
* Let vermicelli cook fully in low heat.Add sugar and cardamom pwdr.
* When the payasam comes to right consistancy,add the coconut milk and garnish with fried raisins , cashew nuts and turn off the stove.
* Some prefer to have bit watery payasam.So we can add the milk accordingly.
* Serve with pappadams.

Creamy Payasam !!!

Notes:
* We can also cook vermicelli in milk,without adding water.It will require lot of milk.
* Coconut milk can be replaced with a tbsp of condensed milk.
* Saffron is purely optional.I have added it to give my payasam a yellow touch.
* We can alo add sabudhana to this payasam.
* I have added 3/4 cup sugar,if u want ,u can cut it down to half cup.It depends on ur taste.