Rava kesari is a rich and delicious sweet dish prepared with semolina and tastes absolutely amazing.
What is Rava Kesari?
Rava Kesari is a famous sweet dish of South India, normally served not only as a dessert but also as breakfast and is made with simple ingredients like semolina, ghee, and sugar which are readily available in the pantry.
As such Rava Kesari is made in most of the South Indian states but it is more popular in Karnataka and made for the festival of Ugadi. They have a savory version of this dish called kara bhat, when both sweet and savory versions are served together then it is known as chow chow bath.
Rava Kesari tastes absolutely delicious and is super easy to make. It takes less than 30 minutes from start to end. This sweet dish can be easily enjoyed for any occasion or just like that. Even kids would love this amazing delicacy. If you haven’t tried it yet, do make it and enjoy the amazing flavors of rava Kesari.
It is more or less like North Indian Soozi Halwa.The only difference is of the color between the two.
Ingredients Needed to make Rava Kesari
- Semolina: Coarse semolina/rava makes perfect grainy texture.
- Sugar: To adjust the sweetness.
- Ghee: Pineapple rava kesari tastes best when made with ghee. For making it vegan use oil.
- Cardamom: To add flavors.
- Saffron: To give that orange-yellow hue to the halwa. You can also use food colorings.
- Cashew nuts: For some nuttiness.
How to make Rava Kesari?
Step 1. Roast Cashew nuts– Roast the cashew nuts with a teaspoon of ghee in a pan until slightly golden.
Step 2. Roast Semolina– Heat ghee in a heavy bottom pan and roast the semolina for few minutes to let it just fragrant without changing color. Turn off the heat and keep covered.
Step 3. For sweetener-Boil water with saffron and kesar color and cardamom and set aside for use later.
Step 4. Make Rava Kesari– Now heat the pan containing roasted semolina. Stir and add the sweetened water prepared above. Let it cook on slow until it starts thickening. Cook for desired thickness
Serving Suggestions and Variations
Serve Rava Kesari with a cup of tea, rava upma or as it is. You can also pair it with medhu vada, uttapam or idli.
For a variation, you can make Pineapple Rava Keasri with your preferred fruits and add your favorite dried fruits and nuts in it.
Like this Rava Kesari, try these recipes…
- Bombay Karachi Halwa (+Video)
- Suzi Halwa
- Banana Sheera | Banana Suzi Halwa
- Shakarkandi ka Halwa
- Instant Carrot Halwa
Looking for more such sweet recipes to get some ideas for your desserts? Do not miss my Carrot Kalakand and Khajur Barfi and the best one’s Besan Ladoo.
*If you ever try this recipe don’t forget to share your photos with me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter or tag me on Instagram @cookingwithsapana using the hashtag #cookingwithsapana and stay connected* I would love to see your creations from my space!!
Rava Kesari
Equipment
- Heavy Bottom Pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup coarse semolina /rava/suzi
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cashew nuts
- 2 cups water
- few saffron strands
- 2-3 green cardamom crushed
- 1/2 cup ghee/clarified butter
- a pinch kesar color
Instructions
- Heat a teaspoon of ghee in a pan and roast cashew nuts. Remove cashew nuts and set aside.
- Into the same pan add rest of the ghee and add semolina and start roasting it on low to medium heat for 5-7 minutes to let it just fragrant avoiding any change of color.
- Meanwhile in another pan boil water with sugar, saffron,kesar color and cardamom, keeping the flame low.
- Now into the semolina add roasted cashew nuts and and mix well.
- Finally add the hot sugar cardamom water and keep stirring on low heat till it starts thickening .
- Remove from heat and serve hot.
Notes
- Use coarse semolina to make the grainy textured rava kesari.
- For color you can add food coloring as well.
- Add more or less ghee as per your desired taste.
- This rava kesari tastes better when serving hot.
Nutrition
This post was originally posted in Feb 2015, I have updated the post with new conetnt and new pics since.
Always let me know how this recipe turned out in the comments below and give a ★ rating. I get so excited to hear how you enjoyed your Rava Kesari and please do share your tips and tricks with me.
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Best Regards,
Sapana Behl
All time favorite. Been a long time
Rava kesari looks delicious!
Super like, my family favourite kesari.
wow.. it has come out really well. Great recipe
Looks wonderful Sapna so tempted to pick it from the screen.
All time quick dessert…I love how grainy it looks..
what a luscious texture
Love the addition of saffron to any Indian dish, gives the dish a nice color and flavor. Yummy kesari.
Simple and yummy. One of my go-to desserts!
Simple and delicious!
A yummy dessert to prepare in a jiffy.