Sooji ka Halva

The second thing we make on Ashtami is for those with a sweet tooth. It's an Indian dessert called sooji ka halva (or halwa). Sooji is semolina. This is the second time I've made halva but I think I'm pretty decent at it :)

Here's how to make it:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sooji (semolina flour)
1/4 cup ghee (or unsalted butter)
1/3 cup sugar
1.5 cup water
Pinch of cardamom powder
1 tablespoon sliced almonds and raisins for garnish

Method:

1. In a pan, heat water, add sugar and cardamom powder and bring it to a boil. Set it aside.

2. In another pan, heat ghee (I used unsalted butter because I didn't have ghee).

3. Once the ghee or butter is hot, put sooji and keep stirring it constantly.

4. Soon, the sooji will begin to turn golden brown and release a light sweet aroma. This will take 5-8 minutes.

Note: Keep stirring the entire time or sooji may burn.

5. Slowly start to pour the sugar syrup. Bring the heat down while you do this because as soon as you pour the syrup, the water will being to splutter. You must stir constantly.

6. Bring the heat to medium and let it cook for another 5 minutes. The sooji will absorb the water. Keep stirring. When you see the sooji begin to thicken, decrease the heat to medium low and stir it until it becomes thick and chunky like in the picture below.

This is how your halva should look once it's cooked properly. Garnish with sliced almonds and raisins. Halva is a very common form of offering to the Gods. 

Enjoy!

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