Almond - banana dessert : Badami-Balehannina payasa

A high fat food that's good for your health? That's not an oxymoron, it's almonds. Almonds are rich in monounsaturated fat, linked to lower risks of heart disease and controlling cholesterol levels.

Here is a quick sweet recipe with goodness of almonds and richness of banana. That's almond banana dessert/ payasa/kheer.

Ingredients:

Ripe banana: chopped 1/2 cup

Milk: 500 ml

Almonds: 15-20

Sugar: 1/4 cup

Cashew: 10-12

Raisins: 2 tsp

Cardamom powder: 1/4 tsp

Saffron: few strands

Clarified butter/ Ghee: 1 tbsp

Method:

1. Soak almonds in water for 30 mins, remove the skin and grind to a smooth paste. Keep aside until needed.

2. Bring milk to boil in a thick bottomed pan and boil until it reduces to 3/4 and becomes thick.

3. Add chopped banana, sugar, cardamom powder and cook until sugar has melted and milk has started to thicken.

4. Reduce the flame and add almond paste and stir well.

5. Boil for 5 more minutes and turn off the stove.

6. Heat ghee in a small pan and fry cashews and raisins and add to payasa.

7. Keep it in the fridge for atleast one hour, garnish with few saffron strands and serve chilled.