Shree Satyanarayana Prasad Sheera

We performed Shree Satyanarayana Puja last Saturday July 17. This Sheera is the traditional Prasad for this Puja. Here is how I made it:

1 cup + 1/4 cup rava/sooji/semolina of medium courseness

1 cup + 1/4 cup ghee

1 cup + 1/4 cup milk

1 cup + 1/4 cup sugar

1 + 1/4th bananas

Few strands of saffron soaked in a tbsp warm milk

Pinch of cardamon pwd.

Roasted unsalted cashew nuts or slivered almonds

The first four ingredients are taken equally in measures of 1 whole and 1/4. Ghee may seem too much, but this is what makes this Prasad so rich and delectable. The Prasad is eaten and distributed in small proportions, so its okay to indulge.

Procedure - Heat the ghee in a heavy bottom pan and fry the rava in it on medium low heat for about 15 mins., stirring frequently to prevent burning, till it turns aromatic. Add the milk, mix well and cook till absorbed. Add the sugar and again mix well. The sooji will loosen in consistency, but will thicken as the sugar gets absorbed. Then add the soaked saffron strands, cardamon pwd and nuts. Stir and cook on medium low for about 5 mins. Take off heat and add the bananas, either sliced or roughly mashed. As the bananas eventually blacken, I sometimes add them just before offering/serving.