Sooji Ka Halwa (Sheera)
Today, since it’s the last day of the year 2010 and a new beginning for 2011. I thought I‘d treat you guys with a dessert recipe. It is sooji ka halwa or sheera. It is usually cooked in Indian households when there is prayers, festivals, or if someone is going to start to do something new a job, business etc. Since, 2011 is going to be a new beginning for everyone in the world what better than a dessert that will will bring good luck, happiness, and many opportunities to be successful this year.
There are various versions of sooji halwa that people make, but personally, I like it with milk as it gives a nice richness to it. A lot of them make it with water itself, and that gives a more smooth texture verses the milk.
Ingredients
1 cup sooji (Cream of wheat) use coarse not smooth one
1-cup sugar
½ - ¾ cup of ghee (clarified unsalted butter), or use unsalted butter
2 1/2 cups milk
2-teaspoon cardamom power
2 tablespoon of finely sliced almonds
2 tablespoons of roughly chopped cashews
Two table spoon of raisins
6-7 threads of kesar (saffron) warmed up in 2-3 spoons of milk.
Method
1) Take a non-stick pan (If you are beginner) or any pan if possible more on flatter side, it will help to cook faster and heat it up on a medium flame.
2) Add ghee to it, when it heats up add sooji to it and roast it till it starts giving you nice aroma and starts turning light pink in color. You will need to constantly stir it as if you do not it will start turning brown color.
3) At that point of time turn the heat low and add milk slowly while stirring it so no lumps form, also add the saffron milk and sugar.
4) Now you can turn the heat back to medium and stir it until it gives you nice thick consistency. Keep in mind that even after you will turn the gas off sooji will be soaking up the milk, so make sure you turn it off right before the type of texture and consistency you want.
5) Add cardamom and other nuts right when you turn the gas off and give it a good mix.
It is ready for you to serve people like it hot or cold, depending on your preference.
Tips
1) You can always make fruit halwa by adding fruit of your choice right after the sooji is roasted, add the fruit, give it a nice stir, and then do the same steps after them. Some great fruits that will work wonders are pineapple, apple, peach, strawberry etc. you can always try one of your favourites.
2) You can slight roast your dry fruits in 1-2 tablespoon of ghee and then add them at the end of the process.
3) You can always use water and a bit less ghee if you want to keep it figure friendly.
I hope you all of you will like this recipe and next one will be the spicy version of sooji…...Enjoy! J
