Rava Kesari is a popular South Indian sweet dish made from semolina (also known as rava or sooji), ghee, sugar, and flavored with cardamom and sometimes garnished with nuts.
Here’s a detailed recipe to make Rava Kesari:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fine semolina (rava/sooji)
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 cups water
- 1/4 cup ghee (clarified butter)
- A pinch of saffron strands (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 2 tablespoons chopped nuts (cashews, almonds)
- A few raisins (optional)
- Food color (optional, traditionally orange/yellow)
Instructions:
- Preparation:
- Heat the water in a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Keep it on low heat to maintain the temperature.
- Roasting Semolina:
- In a separate heavy-bottomed pan or skillet, heat 1-2 tablespoons of ghee.
- Add the semolina (rava) to the pan and roast it on low-medium heat, stirring continuously. Roast until it turns aromatic and changes color slightly. Be careful not to brown it too much.
- This step is crucial to prevent lumps in the final kesari.
- Cooking Kesari:
- Once the rava is roasted, slowly add the boiling water to it while stirring continuously to avoid lumps.
- Be cautious as it might splutter, so keep the heat low initially and gradually increase it.
- Add saffron strands (if using) and mix well.
- Sweetening:
- Add sugar to the mixture and continue stirring.
- The kesari will begin to thicken as it cooks. Keep the heat low to medium and keep stirring.
- Adding Flavorings:
- Add the remaining ghee, cardamom powder, and the food color (if using). Mix well.
- Sauté chopped nuts and raisins in a little ghee separately and add them to the kesari. Reserve some for garnishing if desired.
- Finishing and Serving:
- Stir continuously until the kesari reaches a halwa-like consistency and starts leaving the edges of the pan.
- Turn off the heat and cover the pan for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Garnishing:
- Garnish the Rava Kesari with the remaining fried nuts and raisins before serving.
Rava Kesari can be served warm or at room temperature as a sweet dessert or during festivals and special occasions. It’s a delightful treat loved for its rich flavor and simplicity! Adjust the sugar quantity to suit your taste preferences.
