Panchamrutham literally translates into five nectars – Pancha means “five” and amrutham means “nectar”. It is a sweet concoction prepared using five ingredients and is made during festive occasions and in all temples for abhisekham(ritual bathing of the representation of the divine) and prasaadam. The five ingredients used for making Panchamrutham vary – Banana, however, is ubiquitous. I haven’t come across a Panchamrutham that is served without Banana. Some of the other ingredients that take the place of the other four ingredients include milk, honey, jaggery, coconut, coconut water, raisins, dates, curd and sugar. Some versions of Panchamruthams include a medley of fruits like grapes, jackfruit and so on as one ingredient, making it almost a fruit salad. Panchamrutham is synonomous with Murugan Kovils (temples), served as prasaadam that is a mineral rich glucose sugar burst after devotees climb up the hill for a glimpse of God. Pachamrutham served at the Pazhani Swamy temple is considered to be the tastiest version. Conducting abhisekham (ritual bathing) with Panchamrutham is believed to bring wealth and prosperity.
Bananas for Panchamrutham
Banana – Rich and Pulpy
Panchamrutham (pronounced as “Panjamritham” colloquially)
Here’s the version that we prepare in our family:
Preparation time: 5 minutes, Cooking time: ZERO, Serves: 2
Ingredients
- Bananas – 2
- Raisins – 2 tsp
- Dates (seeded and sliced) – 6
- Grated Coconut – 1 tbsp
- Honey – 2tsp
Method
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Eat immediately or serve chilled.
*Measures of ingredients for Panchamrutham are never exact – this is a classic “kannalavu” (measured by the eye) dish. Unlike the photograph (which my daughter Lakshmi took) the ingredients are slightly mashed and overall Pachamruthams have a slightly squashed look.
Panchamrutham is my entry for JFI-Banana hosted by Mandira from Ahaar. Jihva for Ingredients (JFI) is a series started by Indira of Mahanandi that showcases recipes of one ingredient each month – this month’s theme is Banana.
Read the Round up of all Entries Here
yummy
Very delicious. Nice idea to send this to JFI Banana, it would be a different recipe..
We add tiny bit of Karpoora too, just like the Temples.Great entry!:))
. and now im headed out of station, please miss me too!! 
lakshmi
Missing Latha already.
she’s back
In our case,we add all the above +curd+milk too…I love Panchamrutham…….:-)
looks great!
absolutely delicious. I love the five nectars
thanks for participating in JFI!
We add milk+curd+honey+ghee+kesar to make panchamruta.
Your version looks great !
Such a neat Panchamurtham…very tempting Latha.
Thanks very much for checking up on me, when I was away. So sweet of you.
My apologies for not making up for the event. Actually, I did prepare cheedai, took pictures as well but didnt get time to post
. Its ok will definitely make my entry next time.
And noticed the copyright on the tanjore painting. Thanks for considering my comments
What a classic concoction!
Yay! I just made this and had a big bowl. Indian fruit salad!
heaven on a plate. i love this dish.
those are very clever entries!
Fabulous!
As kids we used to eat a cheaper version (sans coconut and dates) with our chapattis. Should resurrect that here!
Yumm!
(Oh, still salivating over those dink ladoos of yours!)
looks delicious.Great Entry
We in Andhra mix ghee and milk in panchamritham. Is this different from what I am talking about. But this is really classic. Awesome entry.
Hima, the five ingredients used for making Pachamrutham vary – Banana is the only ingredient that seems to be common. Panchamrutham isnt exactly one recipe – but rather a method of making prasaadam using “five nectars”. Milk, Ghee, coconut water, mix of fruits like jackfruits – grapes, curd, sugar, jaggery, pachakalpooram or camphor, kalkandu and so on are used. lakshmi
I really like this simple post about bananas! Am visiting thanks to Ilva’s fruit & berries roundup. She really brings the world together…
Welcome to my blog labelga! I too like all events as we learn more recipes! latha.
[...] Camphor. For example Akkaravadesil, the rice pudding served in South Indian Vaishnava temples or Pachamrutham served in Ayyappan temples as Asha has pointed out. We usually skip the Paccha [...]
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