Apple kesari

                          APPLE RAVA KESARI / APPLE SOOJI KESARI

As a child i always hated kesari, i don know the reason why..but once somewhere(i dont remember where,maybe in a temple prasadham) i had  a bit of kesari.It tasted divine and with lotta ghee in it.actually the kesari was floating in ghee.So from then on i started liking it.So i started making kesari often specifically for some festivals or pooja at home.

And i was bored with the usual kesari made with jus the rava/sooji and sugar.So i thought of giving it a healthy twist this time.So thought i did add some apples to it .SO think the kesari infused with the best fruit which is healthy and also tastes divine.And finally what i achieved was a smooth melt in mouth kesari infused with fresh apple flavour.I always use homemade ghee which is anytime better than the store bought ones..So here goes my recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

• apples                          -                     2nos
• rava/sooji                    -                     1 cup
• ghee                            -                     5-6 tablespoons and more if needed
• water                           -                     2+ half cups
• sugar                           -                      3/4th cup
• cardamom powder      -                     1/2 teaspoon
• raisins and cashews    -                     10nos each
• salt                              -                     1/4th teaspoon

METHOD:

1. peel the apples, core it.
2. chop one of the apples to bigger cubes and the other one very finely chopped as shown in the pic below.

3.heat a tablespoon of ghee in a pan.i always use fresh home made ghee for all my dishes.u can check out the recipe for my homemade ghee here.

4.add cashews and fry for few secs.

5.When they start to brown, add the raisins.And saute till the raisins turn fluffy and cashews turn golden brown.

 6.Now keep the fried cahews and raisins aside.In the same pan add one tablespoon ghee and fry the rava till it gives out the aroma.Should not brown the rava.

7.Meanwhile place the cubed apples with the half cup of water and boil till soft

8.when poked,the apples should feel soft.

9.Let it cool.Drain and grind it into a fine paste in a mixie. Do not discard the water.Use it to grind them to a fine paste.This is called the APPLESAUCE

10.Add the applesauce to the sauce pan.

11.add the 2 cups water(remember the half cup of water we already used to make the applesauce)

12.add the salt.Add the finely chopped apples.Let it boil.

13.Add the fried rava a little at a time ,making sure to mix well each time.Else they form lumps.

14.Cover lid and cook over medium flame for 5 mins.

15.Remove the lid and once you make sure the rava has cooked well, add the sugar.Adding the sugar before will not let the rava to get cooked well.mix till the sugar gets dissolved

16.Add the cardamom powder.Mix well.

17.Add the remaining ghee.Mix well.Make sure that u add enough ghee ..In that case the rava loosens unbelievably to get soaked in the melting ghee..hmmmmm how does that sound??

18.Add the fried cashews and raisins.Mix well.

19.transfer to the serving dish and serve hot.

20.During winters, the ghee may tend to harden when cooled and the kesari becomes lumpy..In that case microwave the kesari on high power for 30 to 45 secs.Then it will loosen up.You can also heat it up in a pan over flame ,but make sure u only simmer it.

COOK'S NOTE:

Do not hesitate to add plenty of ghee for this recipe..Only the ghee gives it the divine melt in the mouth flavour.