Semolina Pudding / Suji Kheer / Food for Babies / Naag Panchami special - Festive Cooking

 

Suji Kheer is one of the easiest and quickest sweet pudding and is made from Semolina. It is known as Ravyachi Kheer in Marathi. Suji Kheer is a delicious Indian dessert and is made during special occasions and festivals. In Maharashtra it is specially made on Naag Panchami festival with Kaanole. Apart from this , Suji Kheer serves best as a after dinner dessert.

Suji Kheer happens to be the first food my Son tasted ! In Hindu culture, one of the important rituals for babies is Annaprashan. It is a day, when babies generally at 6 months of age are given solid food for the first time. And in India , any special occasion has to have a sweet dish. Suji kheer is not only very delicious but is very easy to digest and hence best food for babies. When made for babies, the Semolina is nicely toasted in little ghee and cooked in Cow milk and little sugar. It is sort of a sweet and healthy porridge.

For more baby foods check out this link. (click on the highlighted word )

 The recipe for Suji kheer is very easy , can be made within 15-20 minutes and requires minimal ingredients. The dry fruits give the kheer nice nutty flavor. Saffron adds to the richness of the pudding and the the green Cardamom and Nutmeg gives nice taste and aroma to the kheer. When making for babies make the kheer using Cow milk , without the dry fruits or add with very little amounts and that too in powdered form. The kheer can be made thick like porridge or thin as per wish. I generally keep the kheer little thin.

Ingredients:

• Suji - 2 tbsp
• Ghee / clarified butter - 1 tsp
• Whole Cow milk - 2 cups (500 ml)
• Sugar - 4 tbsp
• Nuts - 1/4 cup ( I have used Almond, Cashews and and Walnuts)
• Few Raisins
• Sew strands of Saffron
• Cardamom and Nutmeg Powder - 1/4 tsp 

Method:

1. Boil the Cow milk and keep aside. In a small bowl take 2 tbsp milk and add few Saffron strands in it.  

    2.  In a non stick wok heat 1 tsp ghee on medium heat and add the Suji and stir well until the Suji turns aromatic . You may add more ghee if wish to.

    3.  Add the hot milk to the Suji and cook for 7-8 minutes. Keep stirring occasionally.

   4.  Now add the Sugar and stir well. Cook until the sugar dissolves.

  5.   Lastly add the Saffron milk, dry fruits, Raisins and Cardamom Nutmeg powder. Mix well and cook for 1- 2 minutes and put off the flame.

       6.   Serve either hot with Puris or Kaanole or chill it and enjoy as dessert !

   If you are looking for some more healthy and delicious milk based dessert recipes , you may check out my Shahi Lapsi Kheer , Sheer Khurma , Apple Rabadi , Shrikhand , Sponge Rasgullas , Mishti Doi.