Mom's Quick-n-Easy Kesari (Indian Semolina Sweet Dish)

Submitted by Anu_N

"My mom has made this ever since I was a kid, and this dish has made MANY of my back-from-school snacks. What makes it special is that not only does it take only 10 minutes to prepare, but it's yummy and relatively healthy! Kesari is called so because of the colour that saffron gives it (kesar = orange, in Hindi). This dish is native to the state of Maharashtra, in west India. If saffron is hard to come by, you may omit it, but use it for authenticity."

 

• Ready In: 10mins
• Ingredients: 7
• Yields: 1 1/3 cups
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 1 cup water or 1 cup milk (for a richer, heartier dish; I use water; or use a combination)
• 3⁄8 cup sugar
• 1 pinch saffron
• 1⁄2 cup semolina, roasted until it just starts to turn a very pale brown
• 2 2 tablespoons clarified butter or 2 tablespoons melted butter, divided
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 tablespoon chopped cashews

directions

1. Boil water (or 1/2 cup milk+ 1/2 cup water or 1 cup milk), saffron and sugar in a skillet over high heat.
2. Once the sugar has melted and the water (or milk) is boiling rapidly, reduce flame to low, add the semolina and 1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons ghee and stir continuously for 2 minutes.
3. The mixture should have"clumped" together into a homogeneous, non-sticky mass (well not TOO sticky!).
4. Remove from flame, add the ground cardamom and mix well.
5. In another small pan heat the remaining 1 teaspoon of ghee and roast the broken cashewnuts in it until golden brown.
6. Add the roasted nuts along with any leftover ghee to the cooked semolina mixture and mix well.
7. Now here's where the fun is!
8. Pack a 1/3 cup measure with the kesari, pressing down well, then invert onto an individual serving dish-- it's not jello, so you'll have to use some force while inverting!
9. Repeat for the rest of the kesari, sit down with friends and family and enjoy this simple sweet dish!

Reviews

[Charishma_Ramchandani]

I make this sweet every Friday, 6pm, while it's sunset time, without fail for 'prasad'(offering to God and then to my family) after Lakshmi puja. This is something that I'm famous for actually(Refer my recipe for "Instant and Heavenly Divine Semolina Halwa"). I've never used saffron in this, but I will now on whenever I have it on hand. I found 3/8 cup of sugar to be very less actually. I used 1 cup sugar when I made it. I also used 1 cup milk in addition to 1 cup water. It makes it richer and gives a better consistency. I went a little low on the ghee, using just 1 1/2 tbsps. instead of 2. I'd like to add that when I prepare this, I always first bring the milk and water mixture to a boil and only after that, I add in the sugar and stir occasionally, until the sugar completely dissolves. (I bring the sugar-water-milk miture to a boil as well). Other than that, I follow all the steps like yours. I must say, Anu, that I "loved" step 8 in particular! I've never tried that, it would be so presentable that way. I will do it like that after the puja today. Thanks for the lovely idea:)