🍮 Rava Kesari (Kesari Bath)

on

Prep Time: 10 minutes
 Cook Time: 15 minutes
 Total Time: 25 minutes
 Serves: 3–4

A classic South Indian sweet made with semolina, ghee, sugar, and saffron. Soft, glossy, and melt-in-the-mouth!

🧾 Ingredients

For Frying

  • 6 tbsp ghee (clarified butter)

  • 3–4 tbsp cashews

  • 1 tbsp raisins

  • 1 cup fine rava (sooji/semolina) – 160 g

For Sugar Syrup

  • ¾ to 1 cup sugar (190–200 g, adjust to taste)

  • 2½ cups water or milk

  • 20–30 saffron strands

  • 2–3 drops natural orange/yellow food color (optional)

Other Ingredients

  • ½ tsp green cardamom powder

  • 1 pinch edible camphor (optional)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Fry Cashews & Raisins

  1. Heat ghee in a heavy pan on medium-low flame.

  2. Add cashews and fry till golden. Remove and keep aside.

  3. Add raisins and fry till they swell up. Remove and keep aside.

2. Roast Rava

  1. Reduce heat to low and add rava to the same ghee.

  2. Roast on low to medium-low heat, stirring continuously.

  3. Roast till:

    • Aroma comes out

    • Ghee separates slightly

    • Color changes (do not brown it)

  4. This takes about 9–11 minutes.

3. Prepare Sugar Syrup

  1. In another pan, add sugar, saffron, color (optional), and water/milk.

  2. Heat on medium flame, stirring until sugar dissolves.

  3. Bring to a rolling boil.

4. Make Rava Kesari

  1. Lower heat and slowly pour hot sugar syrup into roasted rava.
    ⚠️ Be careful — mixture will splutter.

  2. Stir well and break any lumps.

  3. Cook on low heat until rava absorbs liquid and thickens.

  4. Add:

    • Fried cashews & raisins (reserve some for garnish)

    • Cardamom powder

    • Camphor (optional)

  5. Stir until ghee releases from sides and rava is fully cooked.

  6. Cover and rest for 5 minutes. Stir again.

🍽️ Serving

  • Serve hot or warm.

  • Can be poured into a greased tray and cut into diamond or square slices once set.

  • Great as a dessert or side sweet with South Indian meals.

📝 Notes & Tips

  • Use milk instead of water for richer taste.

  • For coarser rava, use 3 cups liquid.

  • Add more ghee or sugar for richer flavor.

  • Vegan option: replace ghee with neutral oil.

  • Nuts can be varied (but cashews & raisins are traditional).

Comments

Post a Comment