To a small pressure cooker add the water, saffron and sugar. Simmer the mixture for 10 minutes. If you are making a small quantity like I did, definitely recommend using a small pressure cooker to make the halwa.
While the sugar water is simmering. heat a pan and add one teaspoon of ghee and add the cashew. Saute till light golden. Remove and set a side.
Add the rest of the ghee and semolina to the pan and roast the rava.
We need to roast the rava and boil the water sugar mixture parallelly. Rava needs to be hot when we add to the boiling sugar water.
Roast the rava in medium flame till it slightly changes color and you can feel nice aroma.
Bring the sugar mixture to a full boil ( you will also see the saffron has also released a beautiful yellow color to it).
Add the roasted hot rava to the boiling sugar water mixture. Initially it will bubble up, mix it well and cook for 30 seconds ( I literally counted 30 seconds).
Turn off the stove. Close the pressure cooker lid and place the weight (whistle). Set a side for 20 minutes. Do not get tempted to open the lid.The steam inside the cooker, combined with hot sugar syrup will cook the rava.
After 20 minutes open the cooker and add the crushed cardamom. Mix it well, you will observe that the rava is absorbed all the moisture and is well cooked. When you fold the rava kesari, it holds well. Let it cool down for 10 minutes. But if you feel the kesari is very soft that you can’t form a ladoo, turn on the stove and cook it for 1- 3 minutes.
Transfer the rava kesari to a plate and mix it well. Make a medium size ladoo and place a cashew on the top. Repeat with the rest of the mixture, I could make 15 ladoo with this recipe.