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    Recipe Index » Indian Sweets

    Rava Kesari (Kesari bath)

    Published: Aug 17, 2020 · Last Modified: Aug 17, 2020 by Kanan Patel / Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    rava kesari with garnish of cashew and raisin with text on top of the image for pinterest

    The absolute BEST Rava Kesari Recipe! It is perfectly rich with a soft, fluffy and melt-in-your-mouth (no chew) texture. This classic south Indian dessert is made with staple ingredients and requires only 20 minutes.

    two scoops of rava kesari with garnish of cashew and raisin with 2 spoons in an oval plate
    Jump to:
    • What is Rava Kesari?
    • 🧾Ingredients
    • 🍳Step By Step Photo Instructions
    • 💭Expert Tips
    • FAQs
    • 📋 Recipe Card

    What is Rava Kesari?

    This is the popular south Indian sweet dish made with semolina, ghee, sugar and saffron. If you literally translate, rava means ‘semolina or suji’ and kesari means ‘orangey saffron color’.

    Because it is a sweet dish, it is eaten as a dessert after a meal or along with a meal. It is also offered as a naivedyam (prasad) to the God during pooja or festivals (like Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Krisha Ashtami) and then distributed amongst the devotees.

    In Karnataka, it is known as ‘kesari bath’ and served as a breakfast along with savory dish (aka chow chow bath - contains this kesari bath and khara bath, similar to upma).

    🧾Ingredients

    Here is the pic of the ingredients used in making rava kesari. Total 6 ingredients + water. 4 of them (semolina, sugar, ghee, saffron) being main and 2 (cashews, raisins) are as per your choice.

    Many do add orange color to make it kesari (orangey color), But I tried to avoid synthetic colors whenever possible. If you want you can add a few drops.

    Image of ingredients used in rava kesari includes semolima, ghee, sugar, saffron, water, cashews, raisins

    Ingredient Notes:

    Semolina (rava or suji): This is the main ingredient here. Fine semolina is preferable for making rava kesari because it gives soft, fluffy texture. And because it is fine variety it will get cooked faster. There is also coarse verity is available in the market and it is good for upma, rava uttapam etc.

    Ghee: It adds richness and smooth texture. Do not reduce its amount for the sake of making it low-calorie. Otherwise, you’ll have to compromise on the texture.

    Saffron: It adds beautiful, bright flavors along with yellowish color to the dish. Use the best quality saffron here.

    🍳Step By Step Photo Instructions

    1) Heat the ghee in a pan on medium-low heat. Once hot add cashews and fry till golden brown, drain excess ghee and remove it to a plate.

    2) Now dry raisins until they puff up, similarly remove in the same plate.

    3) Keep this .aside and add at the end.

    Collage of 3 images showing frying cashews, frying raisins and fried both in a plate

    4) In the remaining ghee, add semolina. 

    5) Dry roast it with stirring constantly till it becomes light brown in color. Also, you will get a nice toasted sooji aroma. It will take around 7-8 minutes and you need to stir constantly for even browning and roasting.

    6) Once done, remove it to a plate and keep it aside.

    Collage of 3 images showing added semolina in ghee, roasting and ready rava in a plate

    7) The same pan, add water and saffron. Bring it to a rolling boil.

    8) As soon as it starts boiling, add roasted semolina and immediately start mixing to avoid lumps.

    9) Within some time, semolina absorbs all the water and it becomes like a thick paste.

    10) Keep stirring and cooking till it becomes really thick and fat starts to ooze out from the sides.

    Collage of 4 images showing boiled saffron water, adding semolina to it, mixing and thickened mixture

    11) Now add sugar and mix.

    12) As sugar melts, it becomes runny again.

    13) Add fried cashews and raisins.

    14) Keep stirring and cooking until it becomes thick and leaves the sides of the pan, also ghee starts to ooze out and kesari becomes shiny. This is the time turn off the stove. It tastes best when served warm.

    Collage of 4 steps showing added sugar, melted, added cashews, raisins, ready rava kesari

    💭Expert Tips

    • Roasting semolina properly is the key to get the best texture. So take your time, be patient and roast with stirring constantly till you get a nice aroma and slight color change.
    • Keep the gas heat MEDIUM-LOW.
    • Do not burn or over roast. We are not looking for brown color. Just slight color change.
    • After adding rava to boiling water, you need to stir immediately to prevent lumps.

    Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to a week.

    FAQs

    How to reheat kesari?

    On stove top: take the required amount in a heavy bottom pan and add a spoonful of ghee and reheat with stirring constantly till it comes warm.
    In Microwave: Reheat rava kesari in the microwave for 30-60 seconds till it becomes warm. Do not overheat for a longer time otherwise, it becomes dry.

    How to make rava kesari with milk?

    Substitute the water with the same amount of milk and it gives a super rich creamy texture. Or use half water and half milk which gives the perfect balance of richness and creaminess.

    Close up of rava kesari in a plate with spoon and garnish with fried cashew and raisin

    Check Out Other Semolina Desserts

    • Sheera - very similar to kesari bath but the procedure and ingredient ratio is slightly different. Hence both have different taste and texture.
    • Pineapple halwa
    • Banana sheera
    • Rava laddu
    • Rava besan ladoo

    PS Tried this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback! Plus, Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for all the latest updates.

    📋 Recipe Card

    Step by Step Photos AboveWant to make it perfect first time? Don't forget to check out Step-by-Step photo instructions and helpful Tips & Tricks !!
    two scoops of rava kesari with garnish of cashew and raisin with 2 spoons in an oval plate
    Print Pin

    Rava Kesari (Kesari Bath)

    5 from 1 vote
    Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and/or give ★ ratings
    This classic South Indian dessert, rava kesari (aka kesari bath) is perfectly rich with soft, fluffy and melt-in-your-mouth (no chew) texture. It requires only 20 minutes.
    Author: Kanan
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: South Indian
    Calories: 390kcal
    Servings 4
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes
    US measuring cups are used (1 cup = 240 ml) See details

    Ingredients  

    • 3 tablespoons Ghee (Clarified butter)
    • 2 tablespoons Cashew nuts
    • 2 tablespoons Raisins
    • ¾ cup Sooji (rava or semolina)
    • 2 ¼ cup Water
    • ½ teaspoon Saffron
    • ¾ cup Sugar

    Instructions 

    • Heat the ghee in a pan on medium-low heat. Once hot add cashews and fry till golden brown, drain excess ghee and remove it to a plate.
    • Now dry raisins until they puff up, similarly remove in the same plate. Keep this aside.
    • In the remaining ghee, add semolina. Dry roast it with stirring constantly till it becomes light brown in color. Also, you will get a nice toasted sooji aroma. It will take around 7-8 minutes and you need to stir constantly for even browning and roasting. Once done, remove it to a plate and keep it aside.
    • The same pan, add water and saffron. Bring it to a rolling boil.
    • As soon as it starts boiling, add roasted semolina and immediately start mixing to avoid lumps.
    • Within some time, semolina absorbs all the water and it becomes like a thick paste. Keep stirring and cooking till it becomes really thick and fat starts to ooze out from the sides.
    • Now add sugar and mix. As sugar melts, it becomes runny again.
    • Add fried cashews and raisins. Keep stirring and cooking until it becomes thick and leaves the sides of the pan, also ghee starts to ooze out and kesari becomes shiny. This is the time turn off the stove.
    • It tastes best when served warm.

    Notes

    • Roasting semolina properly is the key to get the best texture. So take your time, be patient and roast with stirring constantly till you get a nice aroma and slight color change.
    • Keep the gas heat MEDIUM-LOW.
    • Do not burn or over roast. We are not looking for brown color. Just slight color change.
    • After adding rava to boiling water, you need to stir immediately to prevent lumps.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 390kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 2mg
    *Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 serving
    Did you make this recipe?Snap a pic, mention @spice.up.the.curry or tag #spiceupthecurry. I would love to see.
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    Kanan

    Hi, I'm Kanan Patel. I share easy, delicious vegetarian recipes (mostly Indian) and Eggless baking recipes that you can sure count on!

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