Sheera is a delicious, sweet Indian dessert made from semolina (rava), sugar, and ghee. It's commonly prepared during festivals, special occasions, or as a quick treat. Here's a simple recipe for Sheera:
Ingredients:
Semolina (Rava): 1 cup (fine variety)
Sugar: 1 cup (adjust to taste)
Water: 2 cups
Ghee (Clarified butter): 2 tbsp
Cardamom powder: ½ tsp
Cashews: 6-8, chopped (optional)
Raisins: 6-8 (optional)
Saffron strands (optional): a pinch
Rosewater or vanilla essence (optional): a few drops
Chopped almonds (optional): 6-8
Instructions:
Roast the Semolina:
Heat a non-stick pan on medium heat and add the semolina (rava).
Dry roast the semolina, stirring continuously, until it turns light golden brown and releases a nutty aroma. This usually takes around 5-7 minutes.
Prepare the Sugar Syrup:
In a separate pot, heat 2 cups of water. Add sugar to the water and stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
Once the sugar is dissolved, bring the mixture to a gentle boil. You can add a pinch of saffron for color and aroma if desired.
Add Ghee and Cook:
In the same pan where you roasted the semolina, heat 2 tablespoons of ghee.
Add cashews and raisins, and sauté until the cashews turn golden brown and raisins puff up.
Pour the boiling sugar syrup into the roasted semolina gradually, stirring continuously to avoid lumps.
Cook the Sheera:
Reduce the heat and stir the mixture until it thickens and the semolina absorbs the syrup. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
Add cardamom powder and any optional flavoring like rosewater or vanilla essence.
Serve:
Once the sheera reaches a pudding-like consistency, remove from heat.
Garnish with chopped almonds or any other nuts of your choice.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Enjoy your homemade sheera! It’s perfect for a sweet breakfast, dessert, or snack.