It’s Onam. Do you know where your palada will come from? Mine came from a box and it’s awesome! This is a review of one of my biggest culinary finds – the Double Horse Instant Sadya Palada Mix.

Malayalis are known to be divided over a lot of things: Mohanlal vs Mammootty; chaya vs kaapi and Rolando vs Messi. However, as for palada vs prathaman, the balance of choice almost always tilts towards the former.

What is palada payasam?

Palada payasam is a pale pink milk dessert served on religious occasions or during Onam or Vishu festivities. It is the crown jewel of the sadhya. It is savoured on its own or paired with salty papadam and banana or – if you are a complete degenerate like me – licked off the curry-streaked banana leaf.

Its celebrated status in Malayali cuisine (already known for its simplicity) is further exalted by the fact that it needs only three ingredients: milk, sugar and ada (rice flakes).

How can something made only of three basic everyday ingredients taste so good? The secret lies in the technique.

The payasam is slow-cooked for hours on a low flame to reduce the milk. Eventually, the sugars in the milk caramelise, turning the payasam pink and adding a depth of flavour.

Sadhya cooks are known to slave away for hours by the fire, stirring the payasam constantly till their arms give away. The reward is a silky smooth payasam with bits of ada and a taste that cannot be replicated with shortcuts.

Or so we thought…

Normally, I dislike anything labelled “ready to eat” or “instant” and feel a bit guilty when I have to use them in a pinch.

I felt no such shame when I laid my hands on Double Horse Instant Sadya Palada Mix, because ain’t nobody got time to stir away at payasam in today’s fast-paced world.

Double Horse is a brand that sells rice, spices, pickles and ready-to-cook mixes, well-known among the Malayali populace.

I discovered it by chance while browsing through Swiggy Instamart, and even managed to wow my in-laws with it. Little did they know that the lovely payasam I served them at the end of a meal came out of a cardboard box.

Priced reasonably at Rs 89 for 200gm, a single box of Double Horse Instant Sadya Palada Mix can yield a litre of payasam.

Try it if you have a sadhya to save or don’t have hours to spare stirring away in the kitchen.

How to prepare Double Horse Instant Sadya Palada Mix

Anyone who can boil milk can make the palada. All you need for this payasam is the mix and a litre of milk.

1. Boil a litre of milk in a wide-mouthed vessel like a small Add a cup of water if you don’t want your payasam too thick.
2. Empty contents of the box into the milk once it comes to a boil.
3. Let it simmer for 15 minutes. Keep the lid on the while time to prevent the milk from evaporating.
4. Serve on its own or with a swirl of ghee. Nuts are optional.

Ingredients

Rice ada flakes, sugar and milk solids.

 Pros

• The taste. No matter how convenient or cheap, if something doesn’t promise taste, it’s perhaps not worth your attention. I may not know much about the original palada, but this instant payasam tasted exactly like the ones I have had over the years.
• Saves time. It takes only 20 minutes tops to prepare.
• Reasonably priced at Rs 89, a box of the mix can yield a litre and serve four to five people.
• Idiot proof. Anyone who can boil milk can make it.
• Easy to store with a shelf life of 4 months once opened.

Cons

• Ada bits can take a while to cook. Leaving them in the payasam for longer can help soften them. Ideally, prepare the payasam in advance so that the ada can soak the liquid up.
• Subject to availability. It usually understocked and can get sold out pretty quickly.