Here’s a no-cook South Indian dessert recipe of Elaneer Payasam, made with tender coconut (elaneer), sugar, coconut milk and cashews. This sweet dish is also very easy to prepare. Vegan and gluten-free.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 15 minutes
  • Cook time: Not specified
  • Total time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 3
  • Category: Sweets
  • Cuisine: South Indian

Ingredients

  • 1 heaped cup tender coconut (- roughly chopped)
  • ½ cup coconut water
  • 7 tablespoons raw sugar (or 6 tablespoon regular white sugar, add as required)
  • 1 cup Coconut Milk (- canned and thick or first extract of homemade coconut milk)
  • ¼ teaspoon green cardamom powder (or add as required)
  • 7 to 8 cashews (- sliced or chopped, or 6 to 7 blanched and peeled almonds, slivered)

Method

  1. Take the tender coconut, coconut water and sugar in a blender or mixer.
  2. Blend these ingredients together finely in the blender or mixer.
  3. Transfer the blended mixture into a bowl or pan.
  4. Pour thick coconut milk (canned or homemade).
  5. Sprinkle green cardamom powder. Mix thoroughly.
  6. Add chopped cashews (serving some for garnish) and mix again.
  7. Taste test and if the payasam feels a tad less sweet to you, add some more sugar according to taste. Mix and stir to dissolve the sugar.
  8. Refrigerate Elaneer Payasam for a hour or more. Serve it chilled or cold garnished with the chopped cashews.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.