Kesari

There is no Indian who has not tasted good home made kesari/sooji halva. This is one of most common sweet dish made at home and loved by all. Here is my figure friendly variation to the traditional kesari.


Ingredients
Sooji – 1 cup
Sugar – 1 cup
Ghee – 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoon
Milk – 3 cups
Saffron – pinch (optional)
Ripe Banana – 2/3  mashed
Raisin - 1/4 cup
Un Salted Nuts( almonds, cashews, walnuts) - 1/2 cup

Method
Heat ghee in a kadai /wide mouth pan and roast the nuts and raisin. When the nuts turn golden and the raisins have plumped up add the sooji and mix well. Roast the sooji in the ghee until it turns golden and smells fragrant. Add the milk slowly to the sooji and mix well. Take care to pour milk slowly in order to not form lumps. When milk to thoroughly mixed with sooji, allow it to cook until 1/2 done. Then add the sugar and mix well. If you choose to add saffron, please do so now followed by ripe banana. Keep stirring until well incorporated and completely cooked.  Add 2 tablespoons of ghee at the end just before turning off the heat. Serve hot with other savory snacks.