Sheero / Sooji-ka-Halwa

Makes 4 cups of sheero, or sooji ka halwa.

This is a popular dessert, warm or cold, and is made as prasad for Satyanarayan pooja.

Ingredients

• 2 cups sooji (cream of wheat)
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup ghee (clarified butter)
• 2 cups milk
• 1 tbspn cardamom, crushed
• 1 tbspn almonds, finely sliced - optional
• 1/2 tspn saffron - optional

Preparation (15 minutes)

1. Finely slice the almonds and crush cardamom.
2. Mix the saffron in 2 tbspn milk.   
3. In a non-stick pan, roast the sooji on Medium heat for 10 minutes till it is fragrant, stirring constantly.

Cooking (20 minutes)

1. In a non-stick pan, heat the ghee for a minute.
2. Add sooji and cardamom, and stir for 10 minutes.
3. Add sugar and stir for 5 minutes.
4. Add milk and stir for 5 minutes. 
5. Take off the heat and set aside. 

Serving

1. Place in a serving bowl, and sprinkle sliced almonds and pour the milk with saffron on top.
2. Serve hot, or refrigerate and serve cold.