FRUIT KESARI

This is a variety of Kesari, in which fresh fruits are added which gives this sweet a fresh, fruity flavour. Kesari is an Indian dessert made with fine semolina, sugar and ghee. 

Since fruits are naturally sweet, only lesser sugar is used than the usual Kesari. 

Fruit Kesari

Ingredients:

• Sooji/ Fine semolina (Rava) 1/2 cup 
• Ghee - 4 to 5 spoons 
• Fresh fruits (chopped) 1.5 cups 

(I have used apple, pear, pineapple, banana, mango, strawberry & little pomegranate arils) 

• Raisins & cashew nuts - 1 tsp each 
• Saffron threads - a pinch 
• Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp 
• Sugar - 1/4 cup 
• Water - 1.5 cups 
• (Food colour is optional)

Method of preparation: 

1. In a pan, add little ghee and roast the semolina till fragrant and crisp. Set this aside. Now fry the raisins and nuts and keep it aside. 
2. Now add the fresh fruits pieces to the pan and sauté for a few minutes. To this add saffron strands and powdered cardamom and stir well. 
3. Add sugar according to your taste followed by water. Stir very well. 
4. Once this mixture starts boiling, lower the flame and add the ghee roasted semolina little by little. Stir and mix well to avoid white lumps. Add the fried nuts and raisins, leave it on low flame till the water is completely absorbed. Add little ghee to the mix in between. 
5. Once the mix is thickened, remove from flame. Garnish with nuts, raisins and pomegranate arils. 

This can be served warm or cold. I prefer it cold as the fruity flavours settle on cooling.