Payesh is a creamy Bengali rice pudding made by slowly cooking rice in milk with sugar and cardamom. It is a popular sweet for festivals, celebrations and special family occasions. Kids can help add the ingredients and garnish the payesh, while a grown-up handles the hot milk and stove.
What You’ll Need
- 2 cups full-fat milk
- 2 tbsp raw rice
- 3 tbsp sugar, or to taste
- ¼ tsp cardamom powder
- 1 tbsp chopped almonds
- 1 tbsp chopped pistachios
- A few tiny cardamom pieces or extra nuts, for garnish
Steps
Step 1: Add the rice.
A grown-up should bring the milk to a gentle boil in a thick-bottomed pan. Add the washed rice and stir gently.
Step 2: Add the sugar.
Once the rice is soft and the milk has become creamy, add the sugar. Stir gently until the sugar dissolves.
Step 3: Add the cardamom.
Add the cardamom powder and stir gently. Let the payesh cook for another minute so the lovely cardamom flavour spreads through the pudding.
Step 4: Garnish with nuts.
Pour the warm payesh into a bowl. Sprinkle chopped almonds and pistachios on top. Let it cool a little before enjoying!
Serve and Enjoy!
Bengali payesh can be enjoyed warm or chilled. It is a lovely sweet to share with family during a festival or special celebration.
💡 Kids’ Tip: Ask a grown-up to help with the hot milk and stove. You can help measure the rice and sugar, add the cardamom and decorate the finished payesh with nuts.
Did You Know?
- Payesh is the Bengali name for a traditional rice pudding.
- It is often made for birthdays, festivals and special family celebrations.
- Payesh is similar to other Indian rice puddings such as kheer and payasam, although the ingredients and cooking methods can vary by region.
- Slowly cooking the rice in milk gives payesh its creamy texture and rich flavour