Chettinad pazha payasam – Fruit payasam recipe – Popular Chettinad style fruit payasam – Easy and tasty pazha payasam recipe with full video and step-by-step pictures.
I tasted this first time at my sister’s place a few months back and I loved it. I was planning to share the recipe in Jeyashri’s kitchen but waiting for the mango season. Though we can add any fruit of our choice, I personally love the addition of mangoes in this.
The original recipe involves the addition of custard powder in this, but I don’t add custard powder as I felt it might taste similar to Fruit custard. I can say this payasam is slightly closer to the North Indian Phirni but with fruits. I can say this is a mix of phirni and fruit rabdi. I am a huge fan of Chettinad veg cuisine. I have learnt a few recipes from my friends who hail from Karaikudi.
Also during Navaratri time, when you have lot of fruits, do give this a try.
Also check out the unique Chettinad style Kavuni arisi payasam , Black rice paal payasam, Fruit rabdi , Mango phirni
- Soak 1 tbsp of rice in a bowl for 15 minutes. I used raw rice, you can use seeraga samba rice or basmati rice too.
- Soak the almonds and cashew nuts in hot water for 15 minutes and take out the skin of the almonds.

- Grind the soaked rice and blanched cashew nuts and almonds into a fine paste.
- Add 1-2 tbsp of milk while grinding.

- In a heavy-bottomed pan, add 2 and ½ cups of milk.
- Let this boil.
- Simmer the flame and add the ground rice and nuts paste.
- Mix well and continue to stir this continuously.

- Now add the condensed milk.

- If adding saffron add a pinch now.
- Usually, they add vanilla custard powder in Chettinad pasha payasam.
- But I felt it will taste like custard, so didn’t add it.
- To get a nice yellow color I added a pinch of saffron to this.

- Continue to stir this well till becomes a little thickened.
- The payasam tends to thicken after cooling. So switch it off once it is a little thick.

- Allow this to cool completely.
- Once it cools, add the pomegranate, finely chopped apple (peel the skin), finely chopped mango, and chopped grapes (cut into 2-3 pieces)

- Mix well and garnish with sliced almonds.
- Chettinad pazha payasam is ready.

- Notes:
- You can add finely chopped pineapple to this payasam.
- If adding vanilla custard powder, you can mix 1 tbsp of custard powder in 2 tbsp of room-temperature milk. Add to the boiling milk along with the rice and nuts paste.
- If adding a banana, just add it before serving.
- After adding fruits, do not store this for a longer time.
- Chettinadu pazha payasam is perfect for get-togethers and festival gatherings.

Chettinad Pazha payasam recipe
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups of milk
- 1/3 cup condensed milk
- ¼ cup pomegranate
- ¼ cup finely chopped mango
- ¼ cup finely chopped apple
- ¼ cup chopped grapes
- Few sliced almonds
- A pinch of saffron optional
To soak and grind
- 1 tbsp rice use rawa rice or basmati or seeraga samba or millet
- 1 tbsp cashew nuts
- 1 tbsp almonds
Instructions
- Soak 1 tbsp of rice in a bowl for 15 minutes. I used raw rice, you can use seeraga samba rice or basmati rice or millet too.
- Soak the almonds and cashew nuts in hot water for 15 minutes and take out the skin of the almonds.
- Grind the soaked rice and blanched cashew nuts and almonds into a fine paste.
- Add 1-2 tbsp of milk while grinding.
- In a heavy bottomed pan, add 2 and ½ cups of milk.
- Let this boil.
- Simmer the flame and add the ground rice and nuts paste.
- Mix well and continue to stir this continuously.
- Now add the condensed milk.
- If adding saffron add a pinch now.
- Usually they add vanilla custard powder in Chettinad pasha payasam.
- But I felt it will taste like custard, so didn’t add.
- To get a nice yellow color I added a pinch of saffron to this.
- Continue to stir this well till becomes little thickened.
- The payasam tend to thicken after cooling. So switch off once it is little thick.
- Allow this to cool completely.
- Once it cool, add the pomegranate, finely chopped apple (peel the skin), finely chopped mango, chopped grapes (cut into 2-3 pieces)
- Mix well and garnish with sliced almonds.
- Chettinad pazha payasam is ready.
- Serve chilled.