Kesari Bath: A Quick and Easy Sweet Delight from Karnataka

wellhealthorganic.com Kesari Bath: Kesari Bath, a decadent sweet delicacy, is crafted from rava (cream of wheat), sugar, nuts, saffron, water, and ghee. Hailing from Karnataka cuisine, this beloved treat is both swift and simple to prepare, featuring rava (also known as sooji or suji in Hindi, and semolina or cream of wheat in English) as its primary ingredient.

Kesari Bath

• Preparation Time: 5 minutes
• Cooking Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Cuisine: Karnataka, South Indian
• Course: Dessert
• Diet: Vegetarian
• Difficulty Level: Moderate

Ingredients:

For Roasting Rava:

1. ½ cup fine-textured rava (80 grams sooji or cream of wheat)

For Frying Cashews:

1. ½ tablespoon Ghee
2. 10 to 12 cashews

For Making Kesari Bath:

1. 1.5 cups water
2. ½ tablespoon raisins
3. ⅓ cup sugar (60 grams; adjust to taste)
4. ¼ teaspoon green cardamom powder
5. 12 to 15 saffron strands
6. 1 to 2 drops natural orange food color extract or a pinch of turmeric powder (optional)
7. 1.5 to 2.5 tablespoons ghee

Also read: Laddu

Instructions:

Roasting Rava:

1. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan over low heat.
2. Add the fine rava and roast, stirring often until fragrant and crisp, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a plate.

Frying Cashews:

1. In the same pan, heat ghee over low to medium heat.
2. Add cashews and fry until golden. Set aside, reserving the ghee.

Making Kesari Bath:

1. In another thick-bottomed pan or kadai, combine water and sugar over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
2. Add raisins and saffron strands to the sugar solution.
3. Optionally, add food color extract or turmeric powder, and mix well.
4. Bring the sugar solution to a boil over low to medium heat, then reduce heat.
5. Gradually add the roasted rava in batches, stirring continuously to prevent lumps.
6. Incorporate the reserved ghee from frying cashews along with additional ghee.
7. Sprinkle green cardamom powder and mix thoroughly.
8. Cover the pan and let the mixture simmer over low heat for 3 to 4 minutes until the rava absorbs the water and thickens.
9. Ensure the rava is thoroughly cooked; no whitish specks should remain.
10. Once cooked, add the fried cashews and mix well.

Also read: Chilli Potato

Serving:

• Serve Kesari Bath hot or warm.
• Alternatively, pour the mixture into small to medium steel bowls or tart molds, allowing them to set before unmolding and serving.

Notes:

• The recipe can be scaled up accordingly.
• Adjust sugar quantity for desired sweetness.
• Customize with preferred nuts and dry fruits.
• Raisins can be fried with cashews or added directly to the kesari bath.
• Turmeric powder can be added for a deeper color along with saffron.
• Adjust ghee quantity to taste.
• Ensure thorough roasting of rava in a thick-bottomed pan.
• Roasting time may vary based on pan type and heat intensity. Adjust as needed.