Banana Halwa or Banana Sheera is delish sweet pudding made with semolina or cream of wheat, bananas, sugar, dry fruits and is often made as a prasad for Ganesh Puja, Satyanarayan Puja, Devi Puja or for any auspicious occasion.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 5 minutes
  • Cook time: 15 minutes
  • Total time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 6
  • Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Desserts
  • Cuisine: Indian, Maharashtrian

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rava (- roasted, (sooji, semolina, cream of wheat) - finer textured)
  • 2 to 3 bananas (- chopped)
  • 8 to 10 almonds (or cashews - chopped or sliced)
  • 10 to 12 raisins
  • 2 to 3 green cardamoms (- powdered or ½ teaspoon green cardamom powder)
  • 5 tablespoons ghee (or 4 tablespoons neutral flavored oil)
  • ½ cup sugar (or add as required)
  • 1 pinch saffron (- crushed)
  • 2.5 cups hot water (or hot milk)

Method

  1. Heat ghee or oil in a kadai or pan. Add roasted semolina and on low to medium-low heat roast for 2 to 3 minutes, till the semolina starts getting fragrant. Don't brown the semolina.
  2. Add chopped bananas and stir.
  3. Add hot water or milk in batches and mix thoroughly after adding every batch of either the hot milk or water. This ensures that lumps are not formed. Take care when adding the hot liquids as the rava mixture splutters.
  4. Add the chopped almonds or cashews and raisins and cardamom powder.
  5. Add sugar and stir to mix thoroughly until sugar is dissolved. Simmer the Banana Halwa for 2 to 3 minutes.
  6. Add the saffron. Stir and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes more.
  7. Serve Banana Halwa hot or warm.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.