Sooji ka Halwa/Parshad/sheera is the sweet most often offered to Gods during festivals. It is made with simple ingredients available in every home. It is not just limited to offerings to gods, it makes an excellent dessert. It tastes awesome with puris. For me my earliest memories of Sooji ka halwa go back to Navratri, which used to be celebrated twice a year in our home- once in April and then again in September-October. In our home, just like any other Punjabi household, Goddess Durga is worshipped for 9 days. We light the lamp (Diya) and do Arti(its a hymn praising Goddess Durga) twice a day.
Lot of people fast the whole seven days by giving up grains and eating only fruits and certain food that are considered Satvic. Ayurveda divides food into three categories, Rajas,(stands for food that is rich and indulgent) Tamas(Meat, alcohol, onions, garlic, stale preserved foods all fall in this category) and Satvic. Satvic foods usually mean food that is fresh and pure,calms the body and mind, provides equilibrium. Some people,on the other hand don’t give up grains, but just decide to eat one satvic, vegetarian meal a day and eat fruits, nuts and dairy the rest of the day. Some of my popular vrat /fastingrecipes are – Sabudana Vada-Tips and Tricks for Crunchy Vadas, Paneer Butter Masala-No Onion No Garlic Recipe, Chocolate,Dates and Nut Laddoo, Sabudana Appe with Paneer Filling, Instant Rabri, and my Collection of 13 Vrat Recipes.
After a week of fasting and praying, on Ashtami, the typical Parshad or offering is Sooji ka Halwa, Dry Chana(chick peas) and Puris(fried Indian Bread). We invite young girls(they are considered forms of Goddess Durga), and offer them the Parshad. Since Ashtami usually falls on a weekday, its not possible to invite other little girls, and since I am blessed with a daughter, we do our prayers with her. I wake up in the morning and start the preparations to get the parshad ready before she goes to school. She loves the parshad that is made and actually eats the same when she comes back from school as well as for dinner!
So here is the recipe for Sooji Ka Halwa. Share it on your wall, so you will have it saved for Ashtami morning.
Here is the written recipe followed by the step by step pictorial one-
Sooji ka Halwa, Parshad for Navratri, Sheera
Ingredients
- 1 cup Semolina/Sooji
- 3/4 cup Ghee or 11/2 sticks Unsalted Butter
- 11/2 cups sugar slightly less, than 11/2 is perfect for me
- 1/2 cup Almonds you can use less if you want.
- 3 cups water and 1 cup milk
- 2-3 fresh green cardamoms crushed or Cardamom powder
- Few strands of Saffron
Instructions
-
In pan,melt butter. Add Cardamoms.
-
Add Saffron,Almonds and Sooji.
-
On Medium Heat, start Browning the Semolina/Sooji till golden.
-
Add Sugar,Milk and Water. At this point be extra careful. The addition of milk and water to hot butter and Sooji can sometimes cause it to bubble.
-
It may seem like a lot of liquid, it will all get absorbed.
-
Continue to stir, till liquid dries up and the Sooji thickens and starts leaving sides of pan.
-
Garnish with more Saffron and sliced Almonds.
-
Enjoy!
Notes
Do not over dry as it will continue to thicken once removed from stovetop!
Here is the step by step pictorial recipe-
Ingredients for Halwa
Melt the unsalted butter or use Ghee
Add Crushed Green Cardamoms
Add Saffron, Almonds and Semolina
Start browning the Semolina
brown till a nice golden color
Add the milk and water
Stir CONTINUOUSLY till it thickens, you can see it come together and leave sides of pan.
Garnish with more saffron and sliced almonds
Enjoy the blessings!
Enjoy!
Please like my Facebook page to continue to get healthy,easy and tasty recipes from me
If You try my recipes, please share your feedback on my blog or my facebook page with a comment or picture. Would love to hear back from you.
Ritu
Thanks didi I have always been guessing how much water and milk to put for the perfect halwa. Today I know. Will save it 🙂
Aanchal Gupta
No more guesswork now Ritu! Happy Navratris!
Mononita Ghosal
I love suji halwa and I’m going to try this. Haven’t had it for ages. Thanks for the step by step pictorial!
Aanchal Gupta
Thanks Mononita. Share a picture ,when you do make it. Would love your feedback.
Lavina
Right time you have posted, my fast ends tom and will make suji ka halwa. Thanks!!
Aanchal Gupta
Thanks Lavina, jai mata di
Madhu
I love this recipe. The measurements are perfect and halwa comes out soft and delicious.
Aanchal Gupta
Thank you, so happy to hear that the halwa is always a hit.
Sabita
This is best Halwa recipe. The Sooji Halwa is so soft. My daughter and my full family loves it.
Aanchal Gupta
Thank you. So happy to hear your daughter loves this halwa