It is that time of the year again when Ma Durga blesses us with her presence on earth, eradicating our sorrows, troubles, obstacles and granting us a chance to start afresh.
Navaratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity Durga. The word Navaratri means ‘nine nights’ in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights.During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Devi are worshipped. The tenth day is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or “Dussehra”. Navaratri is an important major festival and is celebrated all over India.
It is the time for both festivities and fasting.
Durga Ashtami (Durgashtami), also known as Maha Ashtami (Mahashtami), is celebrated on the eighth day of Navratri celebrations. It is one of the most important day of Navratri days.
There is hardly a North Indian child or home who is not familiar with the tradition of kanya Pooja/Kanjak – on this very special ASHTAMI DAY.
It is special for little girls who get worshipped in every home in the family and neighborhood and get gifts or cash money n the very special bhog prashad of halwa, poori and channa.
Almost every home is filled with the aromas of prashad but the most surprising part of the entire festivity is that in every house nearly the same ingredients are used to make the same three dishes but each one of them tastes different.
Today I’m going to share with you all the way I make this special Prashad- Sooji ka halwa.
Generally, it is made with Sooji,water n sugar.
But the way I make it is slightly different from the usual way. All my friends n their children love the Sooji Halwa made by me.
So to spill the beans the secret of my magical halwa is the addition of Wheat flour(Atta) n Gram flour(Besan) to the sooji.
Atta gives the sooji a binding texture n Besan gives it a nutty flavor.
So heres my recipe.
INGREDIENTS:
Semolina(Sooji)- 2 cups
Wheat flour(Atta)- 1/2cup
Gram flour(Besan)- 1/2 cup
Ghee- 2 cups
Sugar-2.5-3 cups (You can use it according to your taste)
Water- 7 cups
Green Cardamom powder- 1 tsp
Fennel powder- 1 tsp
Chopped mixed nuts( Almonds, Cashews n Pistas)- 3 tbsp
DIRECTIONS:
Take Ghee in a heavy bottomed Pan or Kadhai.
Add Sooji,atta n besan to it.
Roast the mix on low flame. Keep stirring.
Keep on stirring till the flour gets a golden brown color n nice aroma of roasted flour. It’ll take about half an hour to reach to this stage for 3 cups of flour.
Add 2tbsps of chopped nuts to this roasted mix.
Next add cardamom powder.
Roast it for 2-3 mins. All the nuts will be roasted.
Gently pour water into the flour mix. Keep stirring continuously so that no lumps are formed.
All the water will be absorbed by flours in about ten mins.
When the mix is semi thick add sugar to it. Keep stirring till all the sugar dissolves.
The halwa will absorb all the remaining moisture n sugar will start caramelizing. It’ll give halwa a nice color.
Keep on stirring for about 10-15 mins. And when its semi thick turn off the flame.
Garnish it with chopped nuts.