Post #4115592

2026-07-24 02:33 UTC

I was talking to @mativity yesterday about the Middle Eastern desserts, called Milk Puddings by Claudia Roden and &quot;creams&quot; that is sweetened milk thickened with rice flour, cornstarch or other flours to a custard like consistency, with various sweet spice flavourings (saffron, cardamom, rosewater, etc). It reminded me of Besan Payasam in South India. Sometimes called Chickpea Porridge, this dish is not a porridge in the traditional sense, but more like a custard. It is sweetened milk and spices thickened with chickpea flour. It is delicious! The recipe is simple. Take some chickpea flour and add to milk. Add saffron, sugar, cardamom, cashews and maybe some dried or fresh fruit and simmer until custard-like. Now you have something sent directly from heaven, I am sure. And made in under 10 minutes. True instant food. This is a generally a dessert, but it is also great for breakfast. It can form a replacement for egg custard in lots of recipes. Imagine it layered trifle like with fresh fruit. There are recipes online if you search for Besan Payasam or Besan Kheer. #FromTheArchives #FromTheKitchen #IndianFood #Food #Payasam

Replies (4)

@mativity@aus.social 2026-07-24 02:50

@LifeTimeCooking@mastodon.au You've inspired me now to buy some besan flour tomorrow and try an Indian "version' of Muhallebi, with saffron and cardamon. On the rare occasion I have access to Indian sweets made from besan flour, I love them. So more-ish! But so sweet. I think they are usually made with condensed milk, that's why. When I was a child, we loved to buy tubes of sweetened condensed milk, and suck them! But adult me does not care for sugar so much. Maybe the thickened besan flour pudding will recreate something of that experience, without being too sweet? Note: I should just add, that when I make the Muhallebi, I don't add sugar in the cooking. I only drizzle honey on top once I have put it in a dish to cool and set.

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@Karhutar@mastodontti.fi 2026-07-24 06:04

@LifeTimeCooking@mastodon.au @mativity@aus.social oh this sounds fabulous, I already love chickpea flour in everything so thank you for these ideas 💓

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@FaithfullJohn@mastodon.scot 2026-07-24 06:11

@LifeTimeCooking@mastodon.au @mativity@aus.social🤩 😋

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@MCDuncanLab@mstdn.social 2026-07-24 11:35

@LifeTimeCooking@mastodon.au @mativity@aus.social Thanks for sharing!

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