Mung Bean (Dhal) Pudding

Having grown up on juicy mangoes, plump papaya, and other freshly plucked tropical fruit, my mom often ended family meals with a serving of fruit. (To do this day, I don’t know anyone who can skin, core, and carve pineapple with as much ease and speed). Baking required an irksome degree of precision that she generally reserved for birthdays. In the lulls between, we snacked on Oreos, Twinkies, and other prepared desserts until I took over all the baking. 

At least once a month, my mom prepared an elaborate meal for dinner guests which required retrieving a long list of groceries and being marooned in the kitchen for hours. If everything seemed on task by mid-afternoon, she mixed together dough for gulab jamun (more on that later). If the menu felt out of hand, she would send my dad on a run for a 3-layer Pepperidge Farm cake. I loved how the frosting formed right angles on all four corners of the cake as a kid. 

Like all the women that came before her, my mom has always used food to express love and other deep emotions. So for my dad’s birthday and other very special occasions celebrated with family, she makes payasm (mung dhal pudding). A labor of love, I’m convinced that it has helped sustain their 50 plus year marriage.  

MUNG DHAL PUDDING

Serves 4

Mung Dhal Pudding (Payasam) is my favorite Indian dessert. It has a rich caramel base flavored with cardamom, cumin, and ginger. The dhal gives it a chunky, chewy texture. Although it is traditionally made with slivers of coconut pan-fried in butter, I grew up eating it with chopped cashews and raisons which is equally delicious. The dhal takes a while to cook. If you're short on time, prepare it ahead of time.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup whole, skinned mung dhal (green gram)
2½ cups water
¼ teaspoon salt
7 tablespoons sweet molasses
4 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cardamom pods or ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
1¼ cup half and half
½ cup cashews, chopped
½ cup raisins

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Spread the dhal in a single layer on a large cookie sheet. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring once or twice to ensure even browning. The dhal will turn brownish-green when it’s cooked. Cool.

In a blender, process the dhal on the lowest speed until the lentils split and their skins become powdered (about 1 to 2 minutes). 

Pour the dhal in a medium size saucepan and cover it with water. Swish the water around with your fingers to force the powdered skins to the surface. Slowly pour out the cloudy water and repeat until the rinse water is almost clear. Drain. 

Add the water and salt and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-low. Cover and cook until the dhal is soft, about 1½ to 2 hours. 

Gently mash the dhal with the back of a spoon. 

Add the molasses, sugar, 2 tablespoons of butter, and stir. Cook over medium-low heat until the butter melts, stirring frequently. 

Crush the cardamom pods using a mortar and pestle. Discard the papery husks and powder the seeds. 

Add the cardamom, cumin, ginger, and half and half. Stir and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Put the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. When it melts, add the cashews and raisins. Cook until the cashews turn golden, stirring frequently. Mix into the dhal. Serve warm or at room temperature.