Rava Kesari

Recently I got request from one of readers for some traditional south Indian sweets and the first dish that came to my mind was rava kesari.This sweet/dessert takes a pride position in any special occasion like weddings and many festivals here in south India.It is very simple dish with very few ingredients and takes typically 15 minutes to make.Yet making perfect kesari can be tricky some times though.A perfect kesari should have no lumps,ghee should not be too less or more and it should not be sticky here and there.With little practice this can be mastered very easily.Today is Hanuman jayanthi along with new year.so I made this as offering to God.Here is my recipe,I have not added kesri powder as we are not fond of it,instead I added kesari milk masala as that gives a very intense flavor to the dish.

Rava kesari recipe
Star ingredients:Fine rava (cream of wheat)
Time:15 minutes
Serves:3
Ingredients:
1/2 cup fine rava(roasted)
1/4 cup ghee
1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar(adjust)
2 cups water
Nuts for farnishing
Cardamom powder or keasri milk masala powder to taste.
Method:
1.Heat a non stick or thick bottomed cast ion pan over medium flame.Add ghee and heat for 2 minutes.Add the rava and mix well.Fry till nice aroma wafts out.
2.The mixture will turn cloudy and will settle down in few minutes.Add water gradually and keep stirring to avoid lumps.Cook for 5-7 minutes.Take a small pinch and squeeze between the fingers to check if the rava is completely cooked.
3.Add sugar and keep stirring till the mixture is smooth and glossy.Add cardamom or kesari masla powder,nuts and mix well.
4.Keep stirring till the mixture comes together and starts leaving out ghee.
5.Remove from flame and serve hot.
Notes:
1.In the above recipe you can replace water with milk for more rich dessert.
2.If using un roasted rava,dry roast it for two minutes before proceeding with the recipe.
3.ou can add saffron crushed in little milk for more deep color,if you do not prefer kesari color.