Godhuma rava halwa aka kesaribath is a easy to make South Indian sweet dish. Traditionally it is made with sooji or semolina. But this recipe uses wheat rava (cracked wheat, samba rava or dalia), making it a little more nutritious. I make this for festivals like Dasara, Diwali as neivedyam/ prasad or offering to god. This halwa is also made as Satyanarayana swamy prasad. It is the most requested dessert from my kids as well. I am all for quick and easy recipes and this one fits the bill perfectly. It takes less than 20 minutes to make this dish and all you need is 3~4 ingredients. So compared to more elaborate Indian desserts, this is one of the fastest that you can whip up. Also this is a very basic recipe that even a beginner cook can master in no time.
Why I love this recipe
First of all, this is the easiest Indian dessert there is.It is creamy, sweet and delicious.Using wheat rava, makes it more nutritious than sooji. Recipe can be easily customized to make it vegan and dairy-free - so perfect for people on specific diets. I have added tips below.Can be made with other grains like jonna rava kesari (jowar/ sorghum).Fruits like chopped pineapple, mango etc can be added to make this a seasonal treat.
Ingredients
As I mentioned this sweet treat needs only handful of ingredients. Here is what you need: Wheat Rava aka godhuma rava/ dalia. I like to use the fine variety because it mimics sooji in texture, but is more nutritious. If you can’t find fine variety, then go with medium-coarse one. Milk - I use 2% low-fat milk. Whole milk will give the best creamy texture. But you can make it with a combination of water and milk (50:50) or with just water. My husband is lactose intolerant, so sometimes I make it with just water. Halwa may not be as creamy but it is still delicious. Ghee - adds the characteristic flavor and rich texture to this dessert. You can use as much or as little as you like. Other ingredients you need are:
Granulated Sugar - typically this dish is made with white sugar.Ground CardamomCashews, Almonds and Raisins
Instructions
Heat 1 tablespoon ghee in a pan; fry the cashews and raisins until golden. Remove into a bowl and set aside. In the same pan, heat the remaining ghee in the same pan on medium heat; add the wheat rava and cook it until golden, about 3~5 minutes. Your kitchen will start to smell fragrant by this point. Slowly pour in the warm milk, while whisking constantly to make sure that no lumps form. Bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat, cover and cook until rava is completely cooked through and most of the liquid is absorbed. Add the sugar and mix well. The halwa will get liquidy first and will thicken in a few minutes. Stir in ground cardamom and the fried cashews, almonds & raisins. Mix well and turn off the heat. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Tips
Use a combination of water and milk for a lighter dessert. Or use just water to make it dairy-free or use almond or oat milk to make it vegan.Ghee can be subbed with vegan butter to make this 100% vegan dessert.I recommend using fine wheat rava for this recipe. But you can also use medium-coarse variety, if you can’t find it.Fine bulgur is an acceptable substitute.Adjust the amount of sugar as per your taste preference. Typically the same amount of sugar as rava is added. But feel free to use less if you don’t like it too sweet.To ensure that the rava kesari is creamy, add warm milk or water and whisk well. Also cooking on medium-low flame helps to keep the consistency smooth.If the halwa seems too dry after cooking, then add ¼ cup of warm milk or water and cook for 1~2 more minutes.For added flavor, add a pinch of saffron and mix well.
Few more South Indian recipes to try
Rava dosa with onion chutneyKobbari paramannam (coconut rice pudding)Lemon RasamSimple South Indian vegetarian thaliParavannam (South Indian rice pudding)Poha dosa
I love hearing from you!! If you’ve tried this and liked it, then don’t forget to let me know. Give a star rating and let me know in the comments below. Also tag me in your creations on Instagram @cooks_hideout. I love sharing photos when people make my recipes. You can use the hashtag #cookshideout too.
