Rava Kesari (Kesari Halwa)
Rava Kesari (Kesari Halwa) is a popular South Indian sweet dish which is a different version of Sooji ka Halwa. Rava Kesari is delicious and easy to make, usually made on festive occasions. This is a quick fix sweet for parties as it is quick & easy to make especially if you have unexpected guests.
Ingredients
- 1 cup fine sooji semolina
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 4 Tbsp ghee clarified butter
- 2 Tbsp sliced almonds
- 8 drops yellow food color
- Pinch of saffron kesar
- 1/8 tsp cardamom crushed, ilachi
- 3-1/3 cups water
- 1 Tbsp sliced pistachios pista for garnishing
Instructions
- Boil the water with sugar, and cardamom powder in a pot over medium heat. Bring the syrup to boil, mix it making sure sugar is dissolve add the food color and mix. Set aside
- Melt 1 tablespoon of ghee in a frying pan on low medium heat. Add the sooji, and almonds and roast stirring continuously, sooji should be light golden brown in color and will have a light sweet aroma. This should take about 7-8 minutes.
- Add the syrup slowly, as you add the syrup to sooji water will splatter. Make sure there are no lumps. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring continuously. Add more water if halwa becomes very thick.
- Add the remaining ghee 1 tablespoon at a time and cook for 3-4 minutes stirring continuously. Rava Kesari will start leaving the sides of frying pan. Rava Kesari will have a texture of thick batter.
- Garnish the Rava Kesari with sliced pistachios, serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Treat yourself, serve Rava Kesari for breakfast with Aloo Puri , Dal Puri
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Didina
April 23, 2020 at 9:40 amI made this dish using polenta flour (polenta bramata, I used 170 gr, also I added milk instead of water, butter instead of ghee, used only almonds and no cardamom because my sister hates it). It was good. It really is a sort of sweet polenta? Next time I want to add some soaked raisins and maybe a bit of lemon rind.
Also if you use polenta you don’t need yellow food color because it’s already yellow.
Rupali
October 24, 2016 at 7:06 amIt’s my Favourite
Aditya
October 20, 2016 at 2:00 pmDo we need to stir continuously or can we leave it on low flame?
Manjula Jain
October 22, 2016 at 9:47 pmAditya, almost continuously
Jody B
March 4, 2017 at 4:52 amHi Can I exchange polenta for semolina in these recipes to make a gluten free variant? Love the recipes Manjula!!
Manjula Jain
March 5, 2017 at 10:52 amJody, polenta will be good substitute for semolina for this recipe
Meera
October 17, 2016 at 7:01 pmIt seems your video is different than your written receipe
Manjula Jain
October 18, 2016 at 11:37 pmMeera, please tell me where I go wrong
Lakshmi govada
October 15, 2016 at 11:10 pmVery nice and easy sweet preperation.
Thanks
Coomar
October 15, 2016 at 11:44 amInstead of water for Halwa, try milk it is yummy.
Manjula Jain
October 16, 2016 at 11:48 pmCoomar, good suggestion
Jaya Sharma
October 15, 2016 at 12:46 amWow nice dessert recipe and prepared in just 20 minutes.