Sooje Ka Halwa

Ingredients:

• 1 cup soojee (semolina)
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 cups water
• 1/2 cup ghee
• 1/4 tsp powdered elaichi (green cardamom)
• 1 tbsp blanched and shredded almonds-for garnish

Method:

• In a deep, heavy based sauce pan, melt the ghee add the soojee and stir fry over medium/low heat, depending on how often you stir it.
• At the same time in another pan dissolve the sugar in the water over low heat and keep on simmer, till required. It is convenient to do this in a pan with a long handle because when you pour the sugar solution into the soojee mixture, a lot of steam is created, which burns your hand.
• When the soojee is a light brown and gets a glossy look and does not stick together much (which means it is fried enough) add the sugar solution and the cardamom and bring to a boil, then simmer till the liquid is absorbed. At this stage you can stir off and on, not continuous. Takes about 5 minutes.
• Serve hot, garnished with the almonds.