Rava/ Sooji / Semolina Kesari

Love this sweet so much, no need for any spl. occasions to make this. It's very easy to make. In this recipe, kesari is not overly sweet/ oily, it is moist and silky. This is my mom's recipe :)

Ingredients:

1 cup         thick rava/ sooji/ semolina/ grits

1 cup         water

1 cup         milk

1 tbs          oil 

1 tbs          ghee/ clarified butter (melted butter)
1/2 cup      sugar (reduce or increase the amount according to your taste) 

1 tsp          oil + ghee (each)

1 handful   cashew nuts & raisins

2               finely crushed cardamom 

4-8            saffron strands/ 2 pinch orange food color

Method:
1. Heat oil + ghee in a pan, roast cashew. When it turns golden brown, add raisins,  fry till it becomes plump.

2. Now add rava to the same pan and stir it nicely in the remaining oil on med/high, till it gives out a nice roasted aroma, lower the temperature and stir it for another 2-3 mins ( don't let it burn), 
remove the roasted rava from pan. 

3. Pour milk + water to the same pan and heat it (med/high), add cardamom powder, saffron and/or orange color, sugar and stir till the sugar dissolve. 

4. When the liquid starts to boil, reduce the heat to medium and add  the roasted rava (a little at a time) & stir the mix in circular motion simultaneously. 
5. When the liquid gets evaporated, switch off the heat and add another tsp of oil/ ghee, raisins and nuts. Stir it well.

                                          Yummy kesari!
*Heat it before serving