Microwave Gujarati Sheera (Sooji No Siro, 5-Minute Small Batch)
Gujarati sheera, sooji no siro, made in the microwave. Semolina toasted in ghee, cooked with milk and sugar in short bursts with stirring; finish with cardamom and dry fruits. Same family as sooji halwa; not kesari. Serves about two; double for four and extend cook time.
Ingredients
For the sheera
- 1/2 cup sooji rava / semolina; fine or medium
- 4 tbsp ghee 2 tbsp + 2 tbsp; divided
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 3/4 cups whole milk at room temperature or slightly warm
- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp green cardamom powder to taste
- 2 to 3 tbsp mixed chopped dry fruits cashews, almonds, raisins; optional
Instructions
Toast the sooji
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine sooji and 2 tbsp ghee. Stir well so the grains are coated.
- Microwave on high in 1-minute bursts for a total of about 4 minutes, stirring well after each minute, until the sooji smells nutty and looks a shade darker. Watch closely in the last minute so it does not scorch.
Cook with milk and sugar
- Add milk and sugar. Stir until the sugar begins to dissolve and there are no dry lumps of sooji on the surface.
- Microwave on high in 1-minute bursts for about 2 minutes total, stirring between each burst, until the mixture thickens and looks like loose porridge.
Finish with ghee and aromatics
- Stir in the remaining 2 tbsp ghee, cardamom powder, and dry fruits if using.
- Microwave on high in 30-second bursts for about 1 minute total, stirring once or twice, until the sheera pulls together, looks glossy from ghee, and a thin smear on a spoon tastes cooked (no raw flour note). Let stand 2 minutes; it thickens as it cools.
Notes
Microwaves vary by wattage. If sheera looks pale or tastes raw after the times above, continue in 30-second bursts with stirring until done.
For double the recipe (about four servings), use a larger bowl and expect longer microwave time at each stage; stir more often to avoid hot spots.
Use a deep bowl; milk can boil up suddenly in the microwave.
For a dairy-free version, try a neutral plant milk you enjoy in sweets; texture and time may shift slightly.
Same dish as sooji halwa or plain rava sheera; not the same as saffron or colored rava kesari.
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