Sooji Halwa

  Sooji halwa ( rava kesari or kesari bath) is a very popular sweet made during festivals in India. Its a very simple and fast recipe.  

Today is the first day of Navratri. Nav means nine, ratri means night. Thus Navratri is a festival celebrated for nine nights. The first three days of the Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Durga.  

To begin this auspicious festival i made Sooji halwa as a neivedyam to the Goddess Durga. This halwa is a slight variation from what i generally make. Generally we use both milk and water. But today’s recipe calls for only water.

Ingredients:

• Sooji/ Rava – 1 cup
• Sugar – 1 cup ( adjust acc to taste)
• Ghee /Clarified butter- ¼ cup
• Water- 2 ½ cups
• A pinch of saffron
• Cardamom- 2 pods
• Few cashew pieces and raisins
• Slivered almonds for garnish

Procedure:  

Take 1 tsp of ghee and fry the cashew and rasins till golden brown. Keep on side.  

In the same pan add a tsp of ghee and roast the sooji for few minutes till it releases nice aroma to it. Take it out.  

Now in the same pan add water and saffron and bring it to a boil. Now add the rava and cook until all the water is absorbed.  

Add the sugar and mix well, until no lumps are seen.  Reduce the heat and cook till the halwa thickens.

Now add the cardamom, ghee and fried cashew and raisins. Mix and  cook for another five minutes.

Finally add some slivered almonds on the top.   Serve Sooji halwa as Neivedyam to the Goddess.