Karuppu Kavuni Aval Payasam

Let me start by breaking down the name of today’s recipe – Karuppu Kavuni Aval Payasam. Kavuni is an Indian variety of glutinous high fibre black rice from Tamil Nadu. Karuppu is the Tamil word for black and Aval (or Avil) is Tamil for beaten rice flakes. Payasam is a South Indian version of milk and rice pudding.

Normally, when one thinks of black rice, the first one that comes to mind is the Forbidden Rice of China. Once the black rice escaped the walls of the Chinese Emperor’s palace, it was grown across South East Asia. Black rice is grown and eaten in mainly two parts of India.  Chak-Hao is grown in Manipur in North Eastern India and Karuppu Kavuni in Chettinad in Tamilnadu in  South Inda.

Black rice would have come across to North Eastern India across the border from China. How did it get to the Southern part of India? And that too the  Chettinad region in particular? In the old days, the Nattukottai Chettiar community of Chettinad traded quite a bit across South East Asia especially Burma and Malaysia. They brought back Black rice from Burma and started cultivating it. This Black rice or Karuppu Kavuni is generally used in festive Chettinad recipes. Incidentally, Kavuni or Kevuni refers to the gate of a city, castle or fort. Could this perhaps be a reference to the Chinese Emperor’s palace where Black rice was grown initially?

Aval or Beaten Rice Flakes can be found in all rice growing areas of Asia. Kerala enjoys Aval in so many different ways. Aval also has a special significance for us for certain religious festivals. It is important on Ashtami Rohini or Janmashtami, Lord Krishna’s birthday, as it is one of his favourite foods. We always cook beaten rice flakes and offer it to Lord Krishna on this day. I make Paal Payasam, but with Beaten Rice Flakes instead of rice.

Karuppu Kavuni Aval Payasam

Aval is generally of two types – thin or thick, and can be made from white or polished rice and unpolished rice. Our preference is for the thick red variety.  The thicker variety is best for making Payasam as the thinner variety will cook down to mush. The best Payasam is also made with full fat milk, so use that if you can.

Vaal Sivappu Aval Payasam made with a heritage red rice variety called Vaal Sivappu)

Aval Payasam is one of the desserts where less is truly more. It just takes the beaten rice flakes, milk and sugar cooked down slowly and lightly flavoured with cardamom. You can use any variety of thick Aval, red or white. This recipe features Karuppu Kavuni Aval, which Jayanthi Somasundaram of The Spirit of Earth generously gifted me when I met her a couple of months ago. I would recommend using Karuppu Kavuni Aval if you can find it. The Black rice flakes give it a unique aroma/ flavour that is somewhat reminiscent of roses. It also lends it a light purple colour. The glutinous quality of Karuppu Kavuni rice helps in thickening the Payasam and the Aval doesn’t completely disintegrate into the Payasam.

Karuppu Kavuni Aval Payasam

Karuppu Kavuni Aval Payasam, a South Indian festive pudding like dessert made with beaten black rice flakes cooked with milk, sugar and cardamom.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine Indian

Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

  

• 1 litre milk full fat is always best
• 3/4 cup Karuppu Kavuni Aval or thicker variety red or white beaten rice flakes
• 3/4 cup to 1granulated sugar according to taste
• 3 or 4 pods cardamom powdered
• Dried rose petals for garnish optional

Instructions

 

• If you are using Karuppu Kavuni Aval, rinse the beaten rice flakes with water a couple of times and then soak in half the milk for about half an hour.
• If using red or white beaten rice flakes, just rinse in water a couple of times. No soaking is required. Wash the beaten rice flakes and drain the water completely. Keep aside.
• In a heavy bottomed/ thick-walled pan, pour the remaining half litre of milk and bring it to boil. Turn down the heat and add the soaked beaten rice flakes with the milk. Bring to a boil while stirring making sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom and burn. Let it simmer and cook until the rice flakes are cooked. Keep stirring on and off. This should take about 15 to 20 minutes. The milk should reduce a bit and the mixture will thicken a bit.
• Now add the sugar and stir till it dissolves. Allow the milk-beaten rice flakes-sugar mixture/ payasam to cook for another 10 minutes till it thickens slightly. Take it off the heat. Once it cools to room temperature, it will thicken a little more. The milk in the cooked payasam should be slightly thicker, like evaporated milk.
• Stir in the powdered cardamom. Remove from the stove. Transfer into serving bowls and garnish with dried rose petals if desired. Serve warm or chilled.