Sooji (semolina Halwa)

Total Time: 15 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 1/2 cup semolina
• 1/4 cup ghee
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
• 1 tablespoon sliced almonds or 1 tablespoon slivered almonds
• 2 tablespoons raisins (optional)

Recipe

• 1 in a small saucepan, bring water, sugar, and raisins (optional) to a boil, set aside.
• 2 in a small to medium saucepan, heat ghee.
• 3 add semolina, cardamom.
• 4 sauté until light brown, stirring constantly.
• 5 add water/sugar/raisin mixture.
• 6 heat and stir until halwa reaches the consistency of thick mashed potatoes.
• 7 remove from heat, add almonds.
• 8 note: i like to cook the halwa with the raisins but discard them (i don't particularly care for raisins).
• 9 i also sauté the almonds in a bit of ghee, but that isn't necessary.
• 10 to make ghee: heat 2 sticks of butter in a saucepan on med-high until boiling.
• 11 turn down heat to med-low and cook for several more minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 12 ghee will take on a weird plastic-like appearance at the top and smell like caramel.
• 13 strain the ghee through cheesecloth and a fine strainer.
• 14 save what isn't used in an airtight container (it does not need to be refrigerated).