• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipe Index
  • Food Photography
  • Subscribe

MySpicyKitchen

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Food Photography
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Desserts

    Published: Feb 10, 2018 · Modified: Aug 4, 2020 by Usha Rao

    Gluten Free, Vegan Moong Dal Payasam

    Gluten free, vegan moong dal payasam is an Indian sweet or pudding prepared with green gram (moong dal), jaggery and coconut milk.

    Jump to recipe or Pin It for later

    Bowls of moong dal payasam / green gram pudding, gluten free and vegan.

    What is payasam?

    Payasam is a milk based South Indian sweet, a close cousin of North Indian kheer. Payasam is similar to western rice pudding, though the consistency may not be as thick as rice pudding. Payasam is usually prepared with vermicelli and/or sabudana (sago), at least in my family circles. There are many variants of payasam, replacing vermicelli with moong dal, chana dal, beaten rice ~ poha, to name a few.

    Bowls of Moong Dal Paysam, Green gram pudding.

    Theme - Gluten Free Dessert

    This week's theme is gluten free desserts and moong dal payasam is a gluten free dessert. When I made it last week, I made it using milk. I also recorded a video of the preparation. By the time I recorded the video, the sun was setting resulting in less natural light. I shot the video in a weird angle and had to redo it again. Hence, I lost all the enthusiasm to shoot photos.

    Bowls of Moong Dal Paysam, Green gram pudding.

    Vegan & Gluten Free Dessert

    Since I was happy with the recipe, the second time I made moong dal payasam to record a video, I experimented with the recipe. I made it vegan using coconut milk. I am unsure whether I like it or not. However, I ate everything all by myself. If dairy is not an issue, I highly recommend using milk else, use any non dairy milk of choice. I am not vegan and am partial to dairy products 🙂

    Spoonfull of Moong Dal Paysam, Green gram pudding.

    Story Behind this Recipe

    The first time I made moong dal payasam was last Ugadi. It is a tradition to make poornam for Ugadi in many households. Poornam is cooked dal, sweetened with sugar or jaggery to stuff flatbreads such as pooran poli, bobattlu, bakshalu. It is also used to make boorelu, batter coated poornam fritters. The lazy me decided to make payasam instead, using moong dal and jaggery, the two key ingredients in poornam. Since then, this recipe was on my to post recipes list.

    Bowls of Moong Dal Paysam, Green gram pudding.

    Sticking to my New Year Resolution, I made moong dal payasam in Instant Pot. It is a mess free easy recipe and making it in Instant Pot is a breeze. Most of all, using an Instant Pot frees up one of the burners on cooking range, specially on special occasions & festivals, when one is busy cooking up a storm or has to attend 101 tasks!

    Bowls of Moong Dal Paysam, Green gram pudding.

    Here is my first recipe video. I am still learning how to record and edit videos. Feedback is welcome.

    How to make Moong Dal Payasam ~ Green Gram Pudding

    Total Time: 20 - 30 minutes
    Cooking Time: 15 minutes
    Serves: 3 - 4

    Ingredients:

    • ¼ cup Moong Dal ~ Green Gram
    • ⅔ - ¾ cup Water
    • ⅓ cup chopped Jaggery or sweetener of choice
    • 1 - 2 tsp. Oil or Vegan Butter (I used olive oil)
    • 8-10 Whole Cashews, broken into pieces
    • 1 tablespoon Raisins
    • 1 cup or ½ can Coconut Milk (I used Goya light coconut milk)
    • ⅛ - ¼ tsp. Cardamom Seeds, powdered

    Preparation:

    • Dry roast moong dal on medium flame until light brown. Let it cool.
    • Wash and add dal to instant pot inner pot. Add water and cook on manual, vent sealed for 5 minutes and let pressure release naturally, NPR.
    • Meantime, chop jaggery to small pieces.
    • Roast cashews and raisins in oil, and keep aside.
    • Once instant pot pressure is naturally release, open the pot and mix to lightly mash the dal.
    • Press ‘cancel’ on Instant Pot, then press ‘saute’.
    • Add coconut milk and bring it to a boil. Once it comes to boil, let it boil for another 3-5 minutes.
    • Add jaggery, cashews, raisins and cardamom powder and give a good stir.
    • Press ‘cancel’. Stir payasam intermittently until jaggery melts. Though the Instant Pot is off, the pot plate/base is still hot and jaggery will melt and payasam will continue to thicken.
    • Once jaggery is melted, payasam is ready to serve.
    • Serve it warm or chilled.

    Suggestions:

    • Coconut Milk - I used coconut milk and am not sure if I really like it. It was ok. Can substitute it with any other non dairy milk of choice. I personally prefer dairy milk and highly recommend if one is not a vegan.
    • Non Vegan - Is using dairy, use 2% milk (I use 2%) or whole milk. Roast cashews & raisins in 2 tablespoon butter/ghee. Add the ghee to payasam along with cashews & raisins.

    Note:

    • Stovetop - When preparing moong dal payasam on stovetop, use a pressure cooker to cook dal. Then follow rest of the recipe. I pressure cook dal for 3-4 whistles. OR cook dal in a saucepan until soft and follow the above recipe.

    Like the recipe, Pin It.

    This day in 2009: Chikkudukaya Kura ~ Indian Broad Beans Fry
    This day in 2011: Mushroom Bruschetta & a Sandwich
    This day in 2014: Kabuli Palaw

    Bowls of moong dal payasam, green gram pudding,

    More Desserts

    • Hemp seed balls in a plate.
      Hemp Seed Energy Balls, Gluten Free
    • Stacks of Pieces of dark chocolate bark.
      Dark Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Bark
    • Collage of gluten free desserts.
      17 Delicious Gluten Free Desserts
    • Two jars filled with layers of pistachio pudding and chopped strawberries on a wooden board.
      Strawberry Pistachio Pudding Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Suma Gandlur says

      March 24, 2018 at 3:56 pm

      Yuumy payasam, one of my favorites. 🙂 In fact, I prepared it for last week's ugadi.

      Reply
    2. Annapurnaz says

      February 26, 2018 at 12:57 pm

      Delicious and creamy payasam. Loved your video.

      Reply
    3. sushma says

      February 21, 2018 at 3:17 pm

      Yummy payasam Usha. Video looks great, Good luck!

      Reply
    4. kalyani says

      February 18, 2018 at 3:40 am

      Looks like we r gonna see a lot of IP recipes form you too, Usha ! this payasam with coconut milk is so good. I am gonna check out the video soon 🙂

      Reply
    5. Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      February 16, 2018 at 7:01 pm

      Loved your video Usha and the props are great! I love coconut milk in payasam especially the moong dal payasam. In fact I should say I love this version a touch more than the regular milk version.

      Reply
    6. mayurisjikoni says

      February 15, 2018 at 1:54 pm

      I can just imagine moong dal and coconut milk combined...exotic flavors and so easy to make.

      Reply
    7. Bhawana Singh says

      February 15, 2018 at 6:45 am

      payasam looking very inviting, clicks are taken very well. Loved the utensils you have used. Video looks good. Just a thought if you want your viewer to just see the video and cook than add quantity in the ingredient name itself. That will make anyone make recipe just by seeing the video.

      Reply
      • MySpicyKitchen says

        February 15, 2018 at 9:08 am

        Bhawana, I will think about your suggestion. Ingredient quantity was left out intentionally. Will reconsider. Thanks.

        Reply
    8. Pavani says

      February 14, 2018 at 5:46 pm

      Such a nutritious and delicious moong dal payasam Usha. It must have tasted awesome with the addition of coconut milk.

      Reply
    9. Mireille Roc (@ChefMireille) says

      February 13, 2018 at 4:12 pm

      omg - love this coconut milk version - looks so creamy

      Reply
    10. Jayanthi says

      February 13, 2018 at 2:53 pm

      I'm always looking for recipes to cook in instant pot. These are such a delicious looking dessert. Will try them for sure.

      Reply
    11. Harini says

      February 13, 2018 at 12:30 pm

      Love pesarapappu payasam. We routinely make this in summer as it is an excellent coolant. I am yet to try it out in IP, Love those cute earthen bowls.

      Reply
      • MySpicyKitchen says

        February 15, 2018 at 9:05 am

        I didn't know it is a coolant. Good to know. Thanks.

        Reply
    12. sapana says

      February 13, 2018 at 5:33 am

      This is such a sinful looking payasam and I love the amazing taste of it. Never thought of it as gluten free dessert, now I know.

      Reply
      • MySpicyKitchen says

        February 15, 2018 at 9:03 am

        Thanks Sapana. We have so many gluten free desserts and sweets which we fail to associate with gluten free.

        Reply
    13. Priya Suresh says

      February 12, 2018 at 8:25 am

      Such a delectable and irresistible payasam, never get bored of this moongdal payasam, feel like making some rite now. And those tiny pots looks damn cute.

      Reply
      • MySpicyKitchen says

        February 15, 2018 at 8:53 am

        Thanks Priya. Those tiny pots, you would not believe where I got them from. Picked them up from my grandniece's cradle ceremony party, from the dessert counter.. 🙂

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I am Usha! Welcome to my space. I am the content creator and photographer here. I love cooking and all the recipes on the site are tried and tested in my kitchen.

    More about me →


    Holiday Recipes

    • Fresh cranberry Christmas cake is a tangy & sweet cake
      Fresh Cranberry Christmas Cake
    • Loaf of non alcoholic low calorie classic fruit cake
      Low Calorie, Non Alcoholic Fruit Cake
    • plate of masi samoa.
      Masi Samoa, Coconut Shortbread Cookies
    • Norwegian Rice Porridge, Norwegian Food, Norwegian Cuisine, Rice Porridge, Rice Pudding, Norwegian Rice Pudding, Food of the World,
      Norwegian Rice Porridge for Food of the World
    • Collard Greens, Pepperoni, Food & Wine, Cooking from Cookbook Challenge, CCChallenge, Side Dish, Thanksgiving Recipes,
      Sauteed Collard Greens with Pepperoni
    • Thanksgiving Side Dishes, Side Dish, Swiss Chard, Piccata, Piccata Swiss Chard, Cooking form cookbook Challenge, CCChallenge, Food & Wine,
      Piccata Swiss Chard

    Popular

    • Sq image of a platter of veg canapes.
      Bread Canapes Recipe
    • Shrimp noodle soup in a bowl
      Easy Shrimp Noodle Soup Chinese Style
    • Top down view of chicken clear soup.
      Chicken Clear Soup Recipe, Indian Style
    • Omani Food, Omani Cuisine, Roasted Meat, Blogging Marathon, Around the world in 30 days with ABC cooking,
      Omani Shuwa ~ Slow Cooked Lamb

    Finger Food

    • Broiled shrimp.
      Party Shrimp Recipe
    • Tortilla cheese chips, Tortilla cheese crisps, Tucson Cheese Crisps, Blogging Marathon, Tortilla dish,
      Arizona Cheese Crisps
    • Plate of bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers
      3 Ingredient Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
    • A platter of Fiesta pinwheels and a bowl of salsa
      Fiesta Pinwheels, Yummy Party Food

    Curry Recipes

    • A bowl of lima beans curry.
      Lima Beans Curry, Video Recipe
    • Bowl of ulligadda ukkera.
      Onion Egg Curry ~ Ulligadda Ukkera
    • A bowl of chikkudukaya kura or Indian broad beans in a platter along with a bowl of rice.
      Chikkudukaya Kura - Indian Broad Beans Fry
    • Gutti vankaya masala is a flavorful eggplant curry stuffed with peanut sesame spice mix.
      Gutti Vankaya Masala - Stuffed Baby Eggplant Curry

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Subscribe

    Contact

    • Know Me

    Copyright © 2025 MySpicyKitchen