CRACKED WHEAT RAVA KESARI – HAPPY TAMIL NEW YEAR

Dear friends, wishing you all a Very Happy New year! It is a beautiful day for us. The morning was spent calling our families. I found out that my mother-in-law, co-sister, and I had prepared the same menu for New Year – this was a sweet surprise. We prepared Rava kesari, venpongal, vadai, sambar and coconut chutney although mine was a little bit trimmed down as hubby dear wanted to maintain his diet even today. I had made a sugar-free kesari with cracked wheat and also cracked wheat pongal. I have posted the recipe for the kesari here. I guess everybody must know this since it is such a common sweet. This is a totally diabetic-friendly dessert, a little bit healthier than the regular one, I hope you all like this idea :)

INGREDIENTS:

1. Cracked wheat, small variety, 1 cup.

2. Water, 3 cups.

3. Sugar or any artificial sweetener, 2/3 cup or more depending upon sweetness.

4. Cashews and raisins, 2 tablespoons.

5. Ghee or any low-fat unsalted butter, 2 tablespoon.

6. Cardamom, 2 pods.

7. Salt, a pinch.

8. Red or orange food color, a pinch.

PREPARATION:

Dry roast the rava for 5 minutes and let it cool. Crush the cardamom pods finely and keep aside. Heat a pan and add the ghee. Add the cashews and raisins when the ghee starts melting and fry for a few seconds until the raisins plump up and the cashews turn golden brown. Add the water along with the food color, cardamom powder, salt, and sugar or sugar substitute. Let it come to a boil. Once the water starts boiling, add the cracked wheat slowly and keep mixing while adding the wheat. Keep stirring under low flame until the kesari thickens. Switch off the stove when the kesari has a slightly watery consistency, it will thicken further as it cools. Enjoy!