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Rava is one of the primary ingredients to make a variety of sweet dishes in India. During Navratri celebrations, rava halwa, puri, chana, and rice kheer are integral parts of the prasad offered to the Goddess Durga on Ashtami and Navami. Made with sooji, water, and sugar, rava halwa is a quick sweet dish that needs no excuse for any festive occasion to be made at home.
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Apart from this traditional recipe, there are a few more desserts that you can make using semolina and add sweetness to your breakfast spread. The ingredient is easy to work with, and it is loaded with protein, calories, dietary fibre, and fat that your body needs to function throughout the day. This Navami, try a different sweet dish made with sooji and let children relish it during Kanya poojan.
Rava Ladoo
You can use sooji to make ladoo that you can distribute among children and keep the rest of them for yourself to enjoy for weeks to come. After roasting rava, mix it with ghee, sugar, saffron, and cardamom. Keep the combination aside for a while and make small spherical-shaped ladoos with it. You can also decorate each with an almond, cashew, or pistachio.
Rava Payasam
Rava payasam is a South Indian delicacy, quite like sooji ka halwa, only it is made with milk. It is creamy and rich, making it a wholesome choice for breakfast. Roasted semolina is cooked with cardamom, milk, sugar, and saffron, which offers a slight yellow hue to it. Later, garnish it with raisins and cashews and serve it to your guests and family.
Rava Jaggery Cake
If you think that traditional cakes are unhealthy, you can make rava cake and enjoy it guilt-free for days. Being a healthier alternative to maida-based cakes, it is good for your health and will satiate your cravings for something sweet. The ingredients of this cake include sooji, jaggery, and yoghurt. To enhance its flavours, add cardamom and nuts on the top. This sweet dish will pair well with a cup of tea or coffee.
Rava Malpua
Malpua is usually made with wheat flour, but if you want to avoid it, replace it with sooji. Make a runny batter using rava, milk, and sugar. Keep it aside for a while and adjust its consistency right before you are ready to deep-fry it. Once malpua have been fried, dip them in sugar syrup and top them with crushed cardamom seeds and saffron strands.
Rava Coconut Barfi
If you are done with sooji ka halwa during Navratri celebrations, make rava coconut barfi this time. It has the richness and nutritional value of coconut to benefit your health. Roast semolina and keep grated coconut ready. Mix the two ingredients along with ghee and sugar. Once the mixture thickens, add cardamoms and nuts for flour. Spread the concoction on a plate, refrigerate it for a while, and cut diamond-shaped barfi from it.
Rava Kesari
Rava kesari is a close cousin of rava halwa. You can try it during Navratri if you don’t want to defer away from traditional sweets. It has the same recipe but many people add a little bit of creaminess and saffron for a yellow hue. You can add cashews and raisins to the mixture to elevate its flavours.
Rava Gulab Jamun
Did you know gulab jamun can be made using rava? Yes, you can, but first, roast semolina in a pan. Cook it with ghee, milk powder, and a little bit of milk or water. Add cardamom seeds for a refreshing flavour. Once the mixture cools off, make small balls, and deep fry them until they turn golden brown. Dip these balls in sugar syrup, and your rava gulab jamun is ready for festivities.
