Sorakaya Payasam(Bottle Gourd Sheerannam)

Sheerannam is a very traditional recipe in many parts of south India. This is a creamy and rich dessert.
The mace flavor make this as a unique dessert. This is basically a sweet milk pongal.
Milk pongal is a savory type of pongal which is also a very traditional type of pongal Jaggery/Sugar candy and flavorings are added to milk pongal to make sheerannam.
But in this sheerannam I can add Bottle gourd pieces,this is very tasty. To any traditional Indian dessert,cardamon is used as a basic flavoring. . They taste really good in this sweet. The sugar candy brings in the depth of natural sweetness. Milk, sugar and saffron is the heavenly combination. This also gives a beautiful light lemon yellow color to the dessert.

Ingredients:

Rice 1 Cup
Chopped and Boiled Bottle Gourd 1 to 1/2 cup
Milk 3 cups
Jaggery/Sugar 1 to 1 1/2 cup (or as your taste)
Salt 1 pinch.
Water 2 cups(as required)
Ghee 2 tbsp
Cardamom Powder 1 tsp
Raisins 2 tsp
Cashew nuts 1 tbsp
The aboue Two are optional.
Method: In a heavy bottom pan add milk and water bring to /k boil itThen add Soaked rice cook until rice is done.Next add boiled bottle gourd pieces and jaggery / sugar candy and stir well till the sugar candy is completed melted. Now add the ghee and cardamom powder..Heat the ghee and fry the cashew nuts and raisins add it to the pongal. Remove from heat and decorate it with cashews while servingNote:Instead of cardamom powder u can add nutmug powder, mace powder also each 1/8 tsp.