Pineapple Halwa - Vasant Panchami Special

Vasant Panchami is a popular Hindu festival that initiates the arrival of Spring . It is celebrated on the fifth day of Hindu calendar Magha. This day is also celebrated as the birthday of Goddess Saraswati - Goddess of Knowledge and Art. Students worship the goddess on this day.

Yellow is the dominant color of this festival, it signifies the ripening of fruits and crops. The mustard field in North India bloom during this season giving a yellow coat to nature. People wear yellow clothes, offer yellow flower to goddess and many yellow colored delicious dishes are prepared for the occasion .

One such dish which is prepared as prasad ( offering to the Goddess )on vasant panchami  is Pineapple Halwa or Pineapple Sheera . It is also called as Pineapple Kesari and is a popular south Indian dessert . It is a delicious sweet preparation where Suji halwa is flavored with Pineapples. Pineapple puree or pineapple chunks cooked in sugar syrup can be added to the roasted Suji.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Pineapple Chunks ( i have used fresh)
• 1 cup Suji
• 1 cup Sugar
• 3-4 tbsp Ghee
• 3-4 tbsp of chopped Almonds and Cashew nuts
• Few strands of Saffron
• 2 tbsp of Raisins
• 1 tsp of Cardamom and Nutmeg powder

Method:

1. In a heavy sauce pan take Pineapple chunks ,1 1/2 cup of water and sugar. Cook the mixture on medium flame until, sugar completely dissolves and the Pineapple chunks become soft.

  2. In another pan , heat ghee on a low to mediu flame and add the chopped nuts to it. Roast the nuts until fragrant. Now add the suji and roast on low flame . Keep stirring .

  3.  Once the suji is aromatic and turns pink in color, add the boiling Pineapple sugar syrup to the roasted Suji. Stir the mixture well. Add Saffron followed by the addition of Raisins.

   4. Keep stirring until the mixture dries up and leaves the sides of the pan. Lastly add the Cardamom and Nutmeg powder . Mix well and put off the flame.

  

  5. Serve the Pineapple sheera warm and enjoy the sweet and tangy Pineapple delight !!

  

  Hope you all would like to try this simple recipe of a delicious Pineapple dessert and give your valuable feed back . 

Wishing a very happy Vasant Panchami in advance to all those who celebrate. May Goddess Saraswati bless you with knowledge and wisdom !!

 For more Pineapple recipes , do check my posts on

• Pineapple Jam
• Pineapple Fried Rice
• Pineapple Jam Tarts