Prasadacha Sheera / Sooji Ka Halwa ( Banana Semolina Pudding )

Prasadacha Sheera / Sooji Ka Halwa (Banana Semolina Pudding)




Sheera is a sweet dish made of semolina and when banana is added it is called kelyacha sheera. Its a auspicious dish for Maharashtrians and is offered as a ' prasad ' in Satyanarayan Puja , hence Prasadacha Sheera. Satyanarayan Puja is performed before/on any major occasion like marriage, house warming ceremony etc. Speciality of this sheera is that all ingredients used in it are multiples of 1.25 (सव्वा). The dish is loaded with pure ghee, raisins, almond, cashews making it rich sweet dish.

Ingredients:

1¼ cup fine semolina (sooji/rava)
1¼ cup ghee
2½ cup whole milk
1¼ cup sugar
1 ripe banana
½ cup raisins, chopped almonds and cashews
7-8 saffron strands
1 tsp cardamom powder


Method:

1. Roast semolina on medium flame till it starts emitting nice aroma and colour starts getting brown.
Keep aside.
2. Peel banana and mash it roughly. Alongside, keep milk for boiling.
3. Heat ghee in a pan on medium power. Add mashed banana and fry till it turns light brown.
4. Now add all dryfruits (raisins, almonds ans cashews) and fry for a minute.
5. Now add roasted semolina and sugar and fry till semolina gets blended with ghee and banana.
6. Now add the cardamom powder, saffron strands and boiled milk, mix well. Semolina will start expanding after adding milk.
7. Cook covered on low flame for 3-4 minutes. Switch off flame and serve hot or cold.

Notes:

1. If bananas are too ripe and sweet, you can reduce sugar accordingly.
2. Milk is always double the semolina, however you can use 50% milk and 50% water as well.