Pineapple Banana Kesari Bath/Halwa (cream of wheat sweet dish)

Pineapple and Banana both together make this Halwa.. awesome!! It got over even before the dinner started :))

This recipe serves 2-3

You need:

Suji/ Semolina/ Cream of wheat - 1/4 cup

Sugar - 1/2 cup (double of suji)

Crushed pineapple - 1/8 cup (approx. half of suji)

Ripe Banana - 1 Large (very ripe, finely chopped)

Ghee/ Clarified butter - 1/8 cup (approx half of suji)

Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp

Ground Almonds - 2 Tbsp

Raisins - 1 Tbsp

Slivered Almonds - To garnish

Water - 1/2 Cup

1. Roast the suji in a very bottom pan (preferably non-stick) with a little ghee till golden brown. Remove suji from the pan.
2. Bring water to a boil and reduce heat. Add semolina slowly as you stir, so that no lumps are formed.
3. Increase flame to medium high and keep stirring till it gets a little thick and starts clumping a little.
4. At this stage add the sugar and cardamom powder a little at a time while you stir continuously. This will ensure no lumps are formed. Even if they do, don't worry, they will disappear as as the halva cooks. Once you add the sugar, halva will get watery.
5. Stir till it dries up a little. (approx 3-4 min on medium high)
6. Now add 1 tsp of ghee and stir for a min.
7. Add the almond powder and stir for another min.
8. Add 1 tsp of ghee at a time and stir. Repeat this till your see the suji becoming shiny. You don't have to consume all the ghee if it reaches the shiny consistency before that. You can also add another tsp or so if it doesn't happen in the quantity of ghee mentioned above. ( it usually takes approximately half of the suji quantity to get the desired texture).
9. Once done add raisins and mix well. Switch off the flame. Garnish with almonds.
10. Some people like it hot and some cold. I like mine piping hot!!

* You can also make this halwa using only Pineapple, or only Banana. The quantities remain the same, just skip what you don't want to use.

** Tastes very nice when eaten with poori (deep fried Indian bread) and black bengal gram curry.