In a medium, deep, non-stick saucepan, on low heat, add 2 tbsp of ghee. If you add butter instead of ghee, let it melt.

When ghee or melted butter is hot, add the broken cashew pieces. Fry until cashews are light golden brown. Do not fry too much; they will burn. Immediately transfer the contents to a small bowl.

In the same saucepan, on low heat, add 1 more tbsp of ghee. If you add butter instead of ghee, let it melt.

When ghee or melted butter is hot, add the raisins. Keep stirring. Fry the raisins until they puff up and are lightly fried. Do not fry too much. Immediately transfer the contents to the small bowl along with the cashews.

On a platter, break the angel hair pasta strands into small pieces - about 2 inch pieces. (Picture is just an example).

Wipe out the saucepan with a wad of paper towel.

On low heat, add 2 tbsp ghee to the saucepan. If adding butter, let it melt.

Add the angel hair pasta pieces to the saucepan.

Gently stir and roast the pasta pieces for a minute or two, until the pasta is very light golden brown. It may seem a little clumsy to do this. But just a little frying would do. Do not fry too much. Transfer the contents to a plate or bowl.

Wipe out the saucepan with a wad of paper towel.

On medium heat, add 1 cup of water and 4 cups of milk to the saucepan. Don't cover. Let it come to a low boil. Keep stirring once in a while. Don't let the liquids flow over the edge of a container.

Add the roasted pasta pieces to the hot milk in the nonstick saucepan. Mix well. Cook uncovered for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked. Keep stirring quite often, otherwise the contents will get burnt. If a piece of pasta is mashable, the pasta is cooked. Don't overcook.

If the contents are too thick, heat up a cup of milk in the microwave oven for 1 minute and add it to the saucepan.

Add 1 cup sugar (or sugar substitute, or half sugar and half substitute). You can ½ cup more sugar, if you like. Stir and cook for 2 more minutes.

Add the cardamom powder. Mix well.

Add the stir-fried cashew pieces.

Add the stir-fried raisins.

Mix the contents. Turn off the stove.

Semiya Payasam will thicken when it cools off. So it is good if it is a little runny while finishing the cooking. In fact, it is served a little runny in some households.

You can serve Semiya Payasam dessert hot or cold.