Sabudana Payasam, also known as Sabu Payesh or Sago Kheer, is a popular Indian dessert made with tapioca pearls, milk, sugar, and flavored with cardamom and nuts. Here's a simple recipe to cook Sabu Payesh:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sabudana (tapioca pearls)

4 cups milk

1/2 cup sugar (adjust to taste)

1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder

2 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter)

Assorted nuts (cashews, almonds, raisins) for garnish

A pinch of saffron strands (optional)

Instructions:

Rinse the sabudana under running water until the water runs clear. Soak the sabudana in enough water to cover them for about 2-3 hours. Drain the water and set aside.

Heat ghee in a deep, heavy-bottomed pan or a saucepan over medium heat. Add the soaked sabudana and sauté for a couple of minutes until they turn slightly translucent.

Pour milk into the pan with the sabudana and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

Cook the sabudana in milk until they turn soft and translucent. This may take around 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally to avoid the milk from scorching at the bottom of the pan.

Once the sabudana pearls are cooked, add sugar and cardamom powder to the pan. Stir well to dissolve the sugar. Continue to simmer for another 5-10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

If using saffron strands, soak them in a tablespoon of warm milk for a few minutes until they release their color. Add this saffron-infused milk to the pan and stir well.

In a separate small pan, heat a teaspoon of ghee and roast the assorted nuts until golden brown. Add the roasted nuts and raisins to the sabudana payasam, reserving a few for garnishing.

Remove the sabudana payasam from heat and let it cool down to room temperature. It will thicken as it cools. If it becomes too thick, you can add a little warm milk to adjust the consistency.

Garnish with the reserved roasted nuts and raisins. Serve the sabudana payasam warm or chilled, according to your preference.

Enjoy your homemade sabudana payasam (Sabu Payesh)!