Avalakki Payasam

Avalakki also known as Aval, Poha, Atukulu, flattened rice flakes and so on. Avalakki Payasam is preapared especially on Krishna Janmashtami and offered to Lord Krishna.
Avalakki Payasam can be prepared in no time. Texture of avalakki is such that it gets cooked very fast. Avalakki and condensed milk are star ingredients in this recipe. Use of condensed milk gives richness and flavor to this dessert.

Ingredients :

• Rice Flakes (avalakki) - 1 cup
• Full Fat Milk - 4 cups
• Condensed Milk - 1 cup
• Sugar - 2 tbsp 
• Saffron(kesar) - few strands
• Ghee - 1 tbsp
• Chopped Nuts (Cashew, Badam, Pista) - 1/4 cup

Method :

• Wash rice flakes well with water and drain them onto a strainer.
• In a pan heat 1/2 tbsp ghee and fry chopped dry fruits until golden and crispy. Remove them and keep aside. 

• In the same pan heat remaining ghee and fry cleaned rice flakes until it is coated evenly with ghee.

• Meanwhile boil milk in another pan. Or transfer fried rice flakes onto a plate and boil milk in the same pan.

• Add fried rice flakes to milk and let it cook until it comes to a boil. No need to cook it for long time as rice flakes don't take much time to get cooked.

• Now add condensed milk, sugar, saffron strands. Mix well and let it boil for a minute or two.

• Payasam might be very thin. But it will thicken as it cools down. So adjust to your desired consistency.
• Garnish with fried nuts and serve warm.