Gokulashtami Recipe: How to make Aval Kesari

Rediff reader Charulata Rao shares a traditional recipe that can be made in a jiffy.

Gokulashtami or Janmashtami is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna.

"Aval (poha or flattened rice) is believed to be the favourite food of Lord Krishna," says Charulata.

Here how to make Aval Kesari:

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3 persons

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup aval or poha
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 cup water, approx
• 2 tbsp ghee
• 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
• 5 to 6 cashew nuts for garnishing
• A pinch orange or kesar food colour

Method

Step 1

Heat a pan and dry roast the poha for up to 5 minutes on a low flame.

After it cools down, grind into a coarse powder to rava consistency.

Dry roast cashew nuts till golden brown and keep aside.

Step 2

Roast powdered poha on low flame for 2 to 3 minutes.

Step 3

Boil two cups of water in a separate vessel.

Add this hot water to the roasted poha and cook on a medium flame.

Step 4

Cook till the water is completely absorbed and poha is cooked.

 Step 5

Add sugar, cardamom powder and food colour. Mix well.

Stir constantly and cook on a low flame. The mixture will become a little watery.

Step 6

Add ghee and cook till it leaves the sides of the pan. Switch off the flame.

Garnish with roasted cashew nuts and serve warm.

Notes

• Adjust sugar content and ghee according to the taste and preference.
• Ensure that the poha is well cooked as it takes little time to cook fully. Otherwise the kesari will not be soft.

Photographs: Courtesy Charulata Rao

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