Sevaiyan, also known as vermicelli or semiya, is a traditional Indian dessert made from thin strands of roasted wheat or rice flour. These noodles are typically cooked in ghee or oil and then simmered in milk with sugar, cardamom, and sometimes saffron or nuts, creating a rich and aromatic sweet dish often served during festivals and special occasions like Eid. It’s a deliciously creamy and flavorful dessert enjoyed across various regions in India.
Here’s a detailed recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sevaiyan (thin vermicelli noodles)
- 4 cups milk
- 1/2 cup sugar (adjust to taste)
- 4-5 green cardamom pods (seeds powdered)
- A pinch of saffron strands (optional)
- 2 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter)
- Assorted nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios) for garnish
- Raisins (optional)
Instructions:
- Preparing Sevaiyan:
- Break the sevaiyan (vermicelli noodles) into smaller pieces.
- In a pan, heat ghee and roast the sevaiyan over medium heat until they turn golden brown. Keep stirring to avoid burning. Once done, set them aside.
- Infusing Flavors:
- In the same pan, bring the milk to a boil.
- Add the roasted sevaiyan to the boiling milk.
- Lower the heat and let the vermicelli cook in the milk. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Cook until the vermicelli becomes soft and the milk thickens. This might take around 10-12 minutes.
- Adding Sweetness and Aromatics:
- Once the vermicelli is cooked, add sugar to the mixture and stir well until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Add powdered cardamom seeds and saffron strands (if using) to the mixture. Stir gently to incorporate the flavors.
- Garnishing:
- In a separate pan, heat some ghee and lightly fry the assorted nuts and raisins until they turn golden brown. Set them aside.
- Finishing Touch:
- Once the sevaiyan reach the desired consistency and sweetness, turn off the heat.
- Garnish the sevaiyan with the fried nuts and raisins.
- Serving:
- Serve the sevaiyan hot or cold, as per your preference.
Enjoy the delightful flavors of this traditional Indian dessert, the sevaiyan, with its rich, creamy texture and aromatic essence of cardamom and saffron!
