"Kesar-y" Rava Kesari

Rava Kesari with Kesar

Kesari is such a polite and easy sweet dessert. quick to make and good to eat. It doesn't make much fuss to come out well. It is a fool proof recipe.

I make this quick dessert even in the evenings as a snack for our own self or for some guests.

Till few years back, this kesari used to be one of the item on the banana leaf during any functions. now a days so many new fancy sweets are representing the desserts in the meal-spreads in functions. i guess that people started thinking that kesari is an old fashion dessert.

Kesari is more like upma.. but a sweet version. to get a good kesari you have to go easy-hand with ghee. come on.. its a sweet for a special occasion.. its okay to add more ghee. 😋. Enjoy your kesari. the next day, when you go for the morning walk, just bring back the happy memories you had while eating the kesari and walk 15 more minutes. thats all!! Kesari calories.. burned !!

I also think about the artificial food colours they add these days. i thought, after all its kesari and why dont i try with real kesar or saffron. And i did. the flavour was awesome. And colour of the kesari too was very brilliant.

okay, now let me show my version of rava kesari with little saffron and lots of ghee... 😁

Ingredients:

• rava (sooji) - 1 cup
• sugar - 1 cup
• cardamom powder - from 3 pods
• saffron - 1 pinch
• cashews and raisins - 4 tablespoons
• ghee - 5 tablespoons (or less if you prefer)
• salt - 1 pinch
• water - 3 cups

Procedure:

• Roast the cashews and raisins in 1 tablespoon ghee. drain them out of ghee and keep aside to cool.
• Add rava to the same ghee and roast them till nice aroma fills the place. keep aside to cool.
• Cut the saffron into tiny bits and soak it in 1 tablespoon of hot milk.

Saffron in warm milk 

can you see the extra ghee melting :) 

• Take 3 cups of water and bring it to boil. add the saffron milk and the pinch of salt to the boiling water.
• Once the water boils, add the rava and stir it to avoid lump formation.
• Cover the kesari. let it cook for 5 minutes.
• Open it after 5 minutes, and stir well to make it homogeneous. 
• Add the 1 cup sugar (or more if you need more).
• Stir well. small lumps might form. but no worries, press it with ladle. it goes away.
• Add the cardamom powder. 
• Add 3 tablespoons of ghee. mix well.
• Once the kesari is all ready and right before you remove from fire add the last tablespoon of ghee and the roasted cashews and raisins and give a final stir. 

The awesome kesar-y kesari is ready to be served to your beloved ones. 

If you have good friends as neighbours.. sharing a small bowl of kesari with them, increases the sweetness in your kesari as well as in their hearts !

Happy cooking !!