Heavenly Coconut & Poppy Seed Pudding (Payasam)

Here is one of my favourite drinks made with poppy seeds.  It may also help you fall asleep if you have trouble sleeping.  This is a popular drink in southern Indian often made during festivals or weddings.  This can be had either cold or warm.

Here are the ingredients:-

Poppy seeds - 2 tbsp

Almonds - 6

Brown rice - 2 tsp

Coconut flakes or grated fresh coconut - 1/2 cup

Cardamom (remove seeds from pod and powder it in a mortar pestle) - 1 tsp

Water - 2 cups

Jaggery or Gur - 1/2 cup

Milk - 1/2 to 3/4 cup

Poppy Seed & Coconut payasam:

Heat a sauce pan and roast 6 almonds, 2 tsp of brown rice & 2 tbsp of poppy seeds.  After about a  few seconds or so you can smell its fragrance.  Now turn off stove and set the pot aside.  Add this roasted mix to a blender along with 1/2 cup of coconut flakes or grated fresh coconut. Add some water and blend this to a smooth paste.  

Heat 2 cups of water in a pot.  After the water starts boiling, add 1/2 cup of jaggery or brown sugar if you don't have jaggery.  

Once the jaggery melts add the blended paste {rinse out the blender with a little (1/2 cup) water and add it to the pot} . Boil for about 5 to 7 minutes or so.  Add a teaspoon of powdered cardamom.  Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of milk. Boil for 3 or 4 minutes and turn off stove.  This should make around 5 cups.  You may serve this warm or put it in the fridge for a while to serve it cold.