Kirti's Kitchen Katta: July 2016

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Sooji halwa/ Rava Sheera in an Instant Pot

Sooji Halwa/ Sheera

Both my kids love Sooji Halawa or Sheera, that’s what we call it in Marathi. Very healthy recipe but not for a person who is watching his or her calories. I usually make it in my regular wok. However, recently our kitchen welcomed a new gadget called Instant Pot and trust me along with the counter space, this gadget has bagged my heart too J Too filmy right? But just the same way it actually works too.

So here we go. Here is the authentic Maharashtrian recipe with touch of a modern and time saving gadget.

Ingredients:

Sooji/ Rava: 2 Cups
Sugar: 1 ¾ Cups
Desi Ghee: ½ Cup
Slivered Almonds (Optional): ¼ Cup
Golden Raisins (Optional): ¼ Cup
Saffron strands: One pinch
Milk: 2-3 Tbspn.
Velachi pud/ Cardamom powder: ½ Tspn.
Boiling Hot Water: 2 Cups

Method:

Put Insta Pot on "Saute" mode.
Put Desi ghee in it.
Once a little warm add sooji to it.
Keep stirring continuously for 3-4 minutes.
Now add golden raisins to it and continue to stir till your sooji changes the color form pale white to light brown.
Add cardamom powder and slivered almonds to the sooji and stir again.
While the sooji is getting prepared for the halawa, put a pan on gas.
Put water, milk, sugar and saffron strands in it. Let it come to a rolling boil. Make sure that the sugar is dissolved completely and then switch off the gas.
Once sooji changes the color, add this water-sugar mixture to it.
Stir continuously to avoid the lumps.
Now click “Keep warm/ Cancel” button on your Insta pot.
Immediately press “Manual” and set it on 3 minutes, seal the vent.
Once it is done. Let it release the pressure naturally and voila your sooji halawa is ready.
For any reason you feel it is not done (since the quality, texture of the sooji could differ), put it back on “Manual” for 2 more minutes and do the “Quick Release” and it should be done.