Do you have a dish that reminds you of a special occasion every time you see it or smell it? Ever since I was a kid, my mom, sisters and I would go to our congregation on Fridays and after our prayers, we would receive a piece of sheera to take home. This ritual turned sweet treat became something we looked forward to every time we went. Because of the pandemic, there are no food items given at our congregation any longer. Because we miss it, I decided to make it at home for my family.
Sheera or Sooji Ka Halwa is a quick, easy and delicious pudding which is often made in most Pakistani/Indian homes and served on special occasions. Sheera is made with fine semolina or cream of wheat, butter, sugar, cardamom and nuts. This dish is often eaten with breakfast or shared for a special occasion. I don’t like my semolina to get too brown, so I like to roast it on a low heat, stirring frequently.
Sheera (Semolina Pudding)
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Loading...Ingredients
- 1 cup Sooji (Semolina)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp cardamom powder
- Pinch of saffron
- 3 cups of water
- 3 tbsp of salted butter
- 1/3 cup of almond, pistachios and raisins (optional)
Instructions
To start you'll need a large pan and a medium size pot.
Start by heating the large pan on low heat and add in your semolina. Roast on low heat, stirring continuously as it gets toasted and fragrant.
In the pot, add 3 cups of water and stir in the sugar, saffron, and cardamom powder. Stir well and cook on low until it comes to a light boil. As soon as this mixture has come to a boil, you can turn the heat off and let it sit.
Once your semolina has toasted, add in your butter or ghee and incorporate throughout the mixture.
Then keeping your heat on low, start adding your sugar/water mixture a little at a time while stirring. You must keep stirring and making sure the water is fully being absorbed by the semolina.
Once everything is incorporated you can add in your nuts, pistachios, and raisins or use them as a garnish.
Enjoy warm! It’s a real treat.
