Maa has made 31 paayeshs for me, one on each birthday. And so yesterday was my 31st. On the morning of every birthday, she patiently stirs the milk mixture forever (actually it’s probably around 45 mins but this is a very long time to stir continuously, although on a positive note it’s probably really great for toning the arms) to make the sweet and silky paayesh. Obviously, as fitting for any special occasion, the paayesh does not touch my lips until a small portion of it has been offered to god ( in the form of Ganesh in the photo) and until I shower and say a little prayer myself. I’m not religious at all but this little ritual provides comfort and balances out the other more hedonistic aspects of birthday festivities. That minute in front of the offering is a quiet moment in which I can reflect on the past year, give thanks to all the good things in my life, and look forward to next year. It puts everything in perspective.
Maa’s paayesh has that perfect consistency of being a little less thick than condensed milk. I find it is so uninspiring and spirit-deflating when the paayesh limply spills over the spoon because it is so thin and watery. Also importantly, Maa’s paayesh has NO RAISINS. Nothing against raisins as such but we just don’t like them in the paayesh. Instead she adds flaked almonds which gives it a lovely and different texture.
Ingredients
- 2 pints full cream milk
- 2 tbs rice (in UK, Maa uses Basmati but if back in India, she would have used gobindo bhog rice, which is a short-grained, glutinous rice that cooks quickly and has a creamy quality, perfect for paayesh)
- 2 tbs sugar
- 2 tbs palm jaggery
- Handful of flaked almonds
Method
- Put the milk in a saucepan and bring to boil. Stir continuously
- Once brought to the boil, add in the rice (wash it first). Reduce heat a little and stir until the rice is cooked. This should take about 20 minutes
- When the rice is cooked, include the sugar, jaggery and flaked almonds. Stir until the water from the sugar and jaggery have evaporated and the milk has thickened to the consistency preferred.
- Grate a little nutmeg on top (optional)
Can be served warm or cold
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