Pindi Payasa/ paramanna or Belladanna or Gudanna (Sweetened Rice with Jaggery)

Happy Shrikrishna Janmashtami & Happy India Independance Day!

Pindi paramanna (as we call it basically) or Gudanna, a simple, sweet rice dish made with jaggery, is indeed a favorite offering for Goddess Lakshmi /Goddess Durga, especially during festivals like Navratri and Diwali. The simplicity and purity of this dish make it an ideal offering to the goddess during Shravana festivals such as Vara Mahalakshmi pooja/ Gowri Pooja...

Here’s a simple Gudanna recipe without milk or coconut milk, making it quick and easy to prepare. I have fond memories of enjoying this dish at my aunt’s (my mom’s elder sister) home during our summer vacations. She would make it as an offering to the gods for various occasions, even as simple as the arrival of a new calf. We, as kids, absolutely loved it.

Preparation time:10 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:

Rice (preferably short-grain or sona masoori) - 1 cup

Jaggery (grated or powdered) – 1 – 1.5 cups

Ghee (Clarified Butter) – 2-3 tbsp

Cashews – 2 tbsp (15-20)

Raisins – 1-2 tbsp

Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp

Fresh grated Coconut - 1/4 cup

A pinch of Salt

Method:

• Wash the rice thoroughly and cook it in a pressure cooker or pot with 3 cups of water, until soft and cooked properly.
• Take grated jaggery and little water (1/4 cup) in thick bottomed vessel, boil until melted.
• In a separate pan, heat 1 tbsp of ghee and fry the cashews and raisins until golden brown. Remove the cashews from the pan and keep aside.
• Add the cooked rice to the pan with the ghee, and mix well.
• Run the above prepared jaggery syrup through a sieve to remove any impurities and pour to the rice.
• Add cardamom powder, a pinch of salt (to balance the sweetness), and grated coconut if using. Stir well until everything combines well with the rice.
• Add remaining Ghee, cook the rice and jaggery mixture on low heat for another 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
• Garnish with fried cashews and raisins.
• Serve hot as a special offering to Goddess Lakshmi/ Durga.