Dates and Oats Payasam/Kheer Recipe (Dates and Oats Indian Milk Pudding)

Dates and Oats payasam/kheer is an Indian milk pudding with the goodness of nutritious dates, healthy oats, almonds and hint of cardamom in every slurpy sip!

Added jaggery (unrefined cane sugar) gives it an earthy sweet flavor unlike plain sugar.

This is optional. You can increase the amount of dates to make a refined sugar free dessert....totally diabetic friendly!

This delicious Indian pudding can be made totally vegan too by using coconut milk instead of regular milk.

This is one quick and easy to make yet utterly delicious kheer/payasam/pudding that you can make to satiate your sweet cravings albeit the healthy way!

Enjoy warm or chilled!

WHAT IS KHEER/PAYASAM?

“Kheer” as it is called in north India, and “payasam” in the southern part, is the most favored simple milk-based dessert we can make.

When we know guests would be coming, this is the dessert most of us would rush to make as it comes together quickly with ingredients everyone has in their kitchen/pantry and also a favorite dessert every Indian savors!

Kheer is usually a rice pudding preparation with added white sugar and/or jaggery (called payasam in the southern part of India) prepared with rice, broken wheat/bulgur, lentils (split mung beans) or sometimes vermicelli along with milk or coconut milk, and instead of plain sugar, we like to flavor it with jaggery for its earthy, caramel or toffee like flavor.

Jaggery is more nutritious than plain sugar and this is an added incentive to substitute this for plain white sugar in any dessert or sweet! I have even used them in baked goods!!

DATES AND OATS KHEER/PAYASAM:

This kheer has nutritious oats, delicious, good for you dates as sweetener (along with a dash of jaggery if needed), some blanched almonds  and either uses regular milk as a base or if vegan, coconut milk.

I have pureed the dates which adds a healthier taste to kheer as well as helps in reducing the amount of jaggery added. Add enough sweet dates and you can totally omit the jaggery too!

Oats you know is super nutritious and heart healthy. It makes the kheer very creamy and thick with an amazing texture.

Of course almonds adds not only richness but is good for you.

In addition to blending some, slice or chop some, roast and add as a garnish for added texture.

Sounds super easy and delicious doesn't it?

BASIC INGREDIENTS NEEDED:

Oats - here I have used rolled oats or the oats we use in overnight oats.

Dates - use soft, fresh pitted dates which blend easily. Use the best kind. It not only adds to the nutrition, but also is a great alternative to sugar especially if you are careful about sugar in your diet. If they are hard, soak them in water to soften and blend.

Jaggery - optional as if you add more dates, you can practically omit jaggery. Here, I have added a dash of jaggery to sweeten the kheer further. The color of the kheer depends upon the color of the jaggery (and of course dates add to it too).

Milk - this is the base of any kheer or payasam. Feel free to use 2% milk or full cream. Either is fine. But if you are vegan, coconut milk is a great substitution or even plant based milk.

Almonds - normally, almonds are used to garnish any Indian dessert and also add texture. Here, I have blanched a few, peeled and pureed them along with the dates to add to the richness of the kheer.

Raisins - just a handful; optional but adds to the texture of the payasam and who doesn't love raisins?

Cardamom powder - the basic Indian spice to flavor any dessert; just a few. Just deseed the green cardamoms and powder the seeds to a fairly fine powder or if you cannot find whole cardamoms (preferable for authentic fresh aroma), use the store bought powdered version.

Ghee/oil - this is needed to roast or fry the nuts and raisins. If not vegan, ghee is best but oil works fine too!

HOW TO MAKE DATES OATS PAYASAM:

I love this cheat version of payasam because of its ease to make in a jiffy (unlike using rice or bulgur/cracked wheat which takes more time to cook).

Oats cook in a flash so making this delicious payasam is super easy and quick!

Just blend blanched almonds and pitted dates (for a natural thickness in the payasam), add to roasted oats and milk, sweeten with jaggery (you will need a lot less as dates are a natural sweetener!) and cook to a golden brown pudding like payasam.

Adjust the thickness by adding more water or milk/coconut milk.

Flavor with a sprinkle of exotic cardamom powder, mix and serve hot or chilled oats and dates payasam with a garnish of more nuts and raisins.

The color of your payasam will vary depending upon the color of the jaggery and/or amount of dates which varies from light beige to dark brown. There will be no change in the flavor.

Jaggery is easily available in any Indian store or online, but you can use brown sugar instead too or raw sugar.

Added bonus of enjoying this delectable dessert during the winter months  is consuming dates and nuts is considered good as it provides the much needed warmth and energy.

Vegans too can enjoy this delectable Indian dessert by substituting milk with coconut milk. If you have nut allergies, just omit the almonds.

UPDATED MAY 26, 2021:

I was craving for a sweet dessert yesterday to satisfy my sweet tooth after dinner and could not think of any other than this oats dates payasam; quick and healthier too.

My husband is on a vegan diet, so I decided to make it totally vegan. I just cooked the oats in coconut milk, increased the amount of dates and ended up adding just a dash of jaggery syrup.

You can use almond milk instead of coconut milk and some date syrup instead of jaggery too if needed.

As sometimes jaggery has impurities, I normally melt jaggery in a splash of water, strain to remove impurities and store this golden syrup in a glass jar to sweeten my desserts, coffee etc.

Came out absolutely rich, thick and oh-so delicious!

Enjoy this delectable Indian Oats and Dates dessert warm, hot or cold, thick or thin and you and your family/friends are going to love it!

All kheers and especially this one with oats tends to thicken over time, so feel free to dilute with a splash of water and some more coconut milk/regular milk before heating and serving leftovers (if any!).

Do try this simple and quick Indian dessert and let me know in the comments below or on my Facebook page.

Other quick Indian desserts you can try are:

• Gulab Jamun with Instant Rabri
• Easy Instant Rasmalai
• Golden Mango Sheera etc.
• Barley Payasam (Vegan)
• Vegan Quinoa Payasam

How to make Dates, Oats and Almonds Payasam with step-by-step method:

• Soak whole almonds in hot water for about 15 to 20 minutes or give one boil to the water and let the almonds steep in it for about 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes, peel the almonds. Chop about half of them (around 10).

• Deseed dates and keep about 5 for garnishing.
• Place the rest of the peeled almonds (about 10) and 5 to 6 pitted dates in a blender jar and make a fine paste with a little milk.

• In a saucepan, roast the oats on medium high heat, stirring continuously till you get a nutty aroma; about 2 to 3 minutes.

• Tip in the milk (or coconut milk/almond milk etc.) and the ground almonds-date paste (rinse the jar with additional milk) into the pan and bring to a boil on medium high heat.
• Keep stirring to avoid milk getting burnt at the bottom of the pan.
• Once it comes to a boil, lower the heat and add the jaggery. Adding jaggery to hot milk may split regular milk. Give it a good stir.

• Do a taste test and if needed, add more jaggery according to your taste. If you have added more dates or use date syrup, you can totally avoid jaggery.
• When the jaggery has completely melted into the kheer, add the cardamom powder, stir and remove from heat.

• In a small saucepan, heat ghee (or oil if vegan) and roast the chopped almonds till light golden brown. Stir into the cooked payasam.

• Serve this delightful dates and oats payasam piping hot, warm or cold with additional nuts and chopped dates sprinkled on top.

• Kheer/payasam thickens as it cools, so feel free to add more milk when needed.
• Enjoy!!!!

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