Sooji Halwa
Sweet semolina pudding with ghee and cardamom.
Ingredients
- 200 g Semolina (rava)
- 80 g Ghee
- 150 g Sugar
- ½ tsp Cardamom powder
- 30 g Cashews
- 20 g Raisins (optional)
Method
- Roast the semolina and cashews in the ghee in a heavy pan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until golden and smelling nutty.
- Carefully pour in hot water; it will steam and bubble fiercely, so stand back and stir until the semolina absorbs it and thickens.
- Stir in the sugar, cardamom powder, and raisins and cook until the sugar dissolves and the halwa pulls together.
- Serve warm.
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About Sooji Halwa
Sooji halwa, also known as sheera, is a classic Indian semolina pudding served both as an everyday sweet and as prasad — an offering made during Hindu prayers and festivals. Its foundation is rava (semolina) toasted in ghee until golden and nutty, then swelled with hot water and sweetened, all perfumed with cardamom and studded with cashews and raisins. Simple as it looks, the dish is defined by that initial roast, which develops the deep, toasty aroma that separates a good sheera from a pasty one. It's fast, forgiving, and made from staples most Indian kitchens always have on hand.
The texture is soft and spoonable, somewhere between a pudding and a warm porridge, glossy with ghee and dotted with crunchy cashews and plump, sweet raisins. Adding hot water to the toasted semolina is the moment to be careful — it steams and bubbles fiercely — but it's also what lets the grains swell evenly into a fluffy, cohesive mass. Cardamom gives it a warm, floral fragrance while the ghee carries richness through every bite. Served warm, it appears at celebrations and pujas, as a quick dessert after a family meal, or even as a comforting sweet breakfast.
Sooji Halwa: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Sooji Halwa?
A serving has about 549 calories — 7.8g protein, 76.6g carbs, 23.9g fat, 2.4g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Sooji Halwa gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Semolina (rava). You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Is Sooji Halwa dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Ghee. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Sooji Halwa?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out raisins — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Sooji Halwa make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.