Avarekalu payasam

Avarekalu, is the most favorite source of food used during winter by people, mostly in the southern parts of Karnataka. I love “Avarekalu mela”. It is a huge food festival which takes place every year in the month of Januray in the famous streets of Bengaluru, the city where I reside. The mela is celebrated as a grand festival, which is usually organized during the days nearing ‘Shankarathi’ – “the festival of harvest”. The mela offers numerous dishes made only using ‘avarekalu’ with families and localites gathered and enjoying the scrumptious delicacies which are truly irresistible! Its inspiring looking at 200 types of sweets and other delicacies offered by using just one ingredient-‘ Avarekalu’. I’m serious- not exaggerating at all! Truly 200 types it is....

Avarekalu, also called as lablab beans or hyacinth beans is high in nutrition. Lablab bean contains various nutrients, minerals, vitamins and lipids that help to enhance the overall health. It possess antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, tonic, appetite suppressants and many other properties that prevents from various types of ailments.

It has copper, Vitamin B1, zinc, manganese, fiber, iron, vitamin D, protein, potassium which is proved that these beans is extremely good for brain health, cardiovascular health, good for respiration and digestion. It also assists levels of energy required for your body, enhances mood and gum health. It is also known for preventing cancer.

Omg!! With such nutritional facts, aren't they very inspiring for us nutrition freaks to prepare some healthy and tasty food for our dear ones?

I love avarekalu!! Every winter when the avarekalu season starts, mom always prepared different dishes made from these lablab beans- in upit, pulao, curries, saaru, rotis, dosas, rice baths, vadas, halwa, etc. Avarekalu paysam is one of them, a delicious savory for the sweet tooth :)

This recipe takes pretty much of time in peeling the outer skin of avarekalu. But, you also get peeled beans easily available by the local vendors. With this, it is the easiest recipe you can prepare at home, especially when guests are arriving during the festive season and its fun too. Do try it yourself and let me know your experience as well.

Avarekalu Payasam Recipe

For this recipe you need to have ‘hitikina bele’. You have to soak the avarekalu overnight or soak them in luke warm water for 1 to 2 hrs. Press each bean gently to take out the outer skin. You can store them in an air tight container for almost 4 days.

Ingredients: (serves 2)

Peeled lablab beans/ avarekalu (1 cup/ 100gm)

Jaggery ½ to ¾th cup ( or according to your taste)

Khus khus seeds 1 tbsp

Grated coconut ½ cup

Ghee 1 tbsp

Lavang 2 to 3

Cashew/ badam ( ¼ cup)

Dried grapes 4 to 5

Method of preparation:

Step 1:

Cook hitkin bele in pressure cooker for 2 to 3 whistles. It has to be soft and mushy when you press the beans. Keep it aside. Don’t worry if its overcooked, you can still use them.

Step 2:

In a small pan, add water, add in jaggery and keep boiling till jaggery is completely melted.

Step 3:

In another small frying pan roast khus khus seeds in ghee. It has to splutter just like how mustard seeds splutter when you temper it.

Step 4:

In a mixie grinder, add grated coconut and roasted khus khus seeds some mashed avarekalu. You can add little water and grind them to a fine paste.

Step 5:

After jaggery is completely melted add in cooked avarekalu and also the ground paste. Let it boil. Simmer for 10 mins.

Step 6:

Switch off the flame. Keep the paysam aside.

Use the same pan, which you used for roasting khus khus seeds. Add some ghee, after its slightly hot add lavang(cloves), chopped cashews, badam (almonds) and dried grapes. Fry them till they turn golden brown. Switch off the flame and pour this to the paysam.

Your avarekalu payasam is ready to serve. Its is usually good when it is served hot. I prefer to eat it hot, as its winter of course!!

Tip:

I love to eat this payasam with chapattis/ pooris. It tastes heavenly delicious!! You can get ready made wheat parathas or chapattis which are hygienically packed and available easily or make your own homemade chapattis for an awesome dinner. You can use this recipe tip as a dessert too! Just soak them for some minutes, serve them in bowls by garnishing roasted dry fruits and some cardamom powder on the top! Mmmm …Yum!!!