This Sheera recipe or sooji ka halwa is a popular sweet dish in India.

Sooji ka halwa is made for breakfast or as a snack or as a side dish with a main meal. In Maharashtra and Karnataka, it is distributed to the devotees as a 'Satyanarayana Prasad', after the Satyanarayana Pooja. At that time Banana is also added to it.

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How to Make Sheera

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Ingredients:

Semolina (sooji-rava-cream of wheat) - 1 cup

Sugar - 3/4 cup or a little more.

Water + milk - 2 cups

Ghee - 1/4 cup

Cashew nuts -4-5 chopped finely

Raisins - 10

Cardamom powder - 1 1/2 teaspoon.

Cooking method:

1. Heat a deep thick bottomed pan. Add ghee and semolina.
2. Roast till semolina starts giving a nice aroma. It will take about 7-8 minutes. But do not let it become brown.
3. Add 2 cups water. Stir well and let cook covered on low fire for a few minutes.
4. Remove lid and add sugar. Mix well and let cook some more.
5. Add cashew nuts, cardamom powder. Cover and cook for a few minutes.

Halva is ready to serve.

Tips:

Add banana, mango or pineapple as a variation. If using fresh fruit or canned one, add it in the end after you take sheera off fire. Mix well. You may omit the cardamom powder when you add fruit if you wish but you don't have to.

Add milk instead of water if you wish. Or you can use half milk and half water. Milk makes it more tasty.

If you are a vegan, use only water. Instead of ghee, use oil.

To reduce time, heat water while you are roasting rava/semolina and add this hot water. Cooking will be done fast.

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