This Kerala style moong dal payasam is sweet, creamy and absolutely delicious! Moong dal payasam is basically the south Indian version of kheer but instead of rice we’re using small yellow lentils and instead of milk, we’re using coconut milk!
Kerala Style Moong Dal Payasam
The name of the South Indian state of Kerala translates to “the land of coconut trees,” and so it’s no surprise that this traditional moong dal payasam calls for coconut milk. There, they use fresh coconut milk, but for simplicity’s sake, my recipe calls for canned coconut milk. This moong dal payasam goes by several different names. It’s also known as parippu payasam or moong dal ki kheer. It’s a special dessert often served during the Onam festival (I talk a bit about this festival in my avial blog post). You can of course serve this any time and for any reason! My recipe calls for roasting the moong dal in the instant pot – it adds such a nice nutty flavor and aroma to the payasam. I also suggest sautéing cashews and pieces of coconut in ghee then adding it at the end. It gives the creamy kheer a nice crunch and adds flavor too. You can find frozen coconut pieces from your local Indian grocery store. With coconut being so popular these days, you might even be able to find them at your regular grocery store – I think I’ve even seen them at Trader Joe’s! This isn’t a healthy dessert but I will admit, I feel a little better about eating a dessert made with lentils. My Keralite husband, Roby, doesn’t typically eat sweets but when he does – he likes them SWEET. That’s why we almost always end up adding a full cup of jaggery to this paysam, but feel free to adapt this dessert to your taste. You can also use coconut sugar or brown sugar if you don’t have jaggery on hand – I do love the taste of jaggery though. If you make this dessert, leave a comment letting me know what you think! Have you ever made dessert with lentils? I think you’re going to love it! Like this recipe? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board now so you will remember to make it later!
