27 December 2009

WIPGYOR series: Indigo is for Blueberry Sheera

Pre-Canada, if you told me about blueberry sheera, I would have said: Whats this blueberry man? and why is it in my sheera? And why is my sheera INDIGO??? I would perhaps even have given you a dirty look.

Post-Canada though, I have fallen in love with this berry. It’s a beautiful, healthy and very versatile berry! You could use it in anything from breakfast cereals, muffins and pancakes to the more decadent desserts like the pies or cheesecakes.

For those of you who don't know about 'sheera', this is a lovely Indian sweet dish (of the pudding family) made from rawa (semolina/cream of wheat) and depending on how you add your butter and nuts and fruit, can range from a mild, moderate to quite rich a dish. From where I come from, we like to make it quite mild in sweetness, with some nuts and mostly eat it for breakfast. Also adding blueberries to sheera is not common in India. Pretty natural as blueberries in India are not common. Which explains my dirty look pre-canada.

I first tasted blueberry sheera when N & I went to our nearby ISKON temple for Janmasthami celebrations...both N and I love this temple, especially the Radha-Krishna idols and make it a point to go there every year on the occasion of Janmasthami...lots of devotees turn up to celebrate baby Krishna's birthday and in turn he treats them with some lovely vegan treats...and this was exactly where N & I first had the blueberry sheera!

To tell the truth, we were both alarmed when we first saw the bluish-indigoish coloured sheera..but then we had the first bite and that was it!...the sweetness of the regular sheera is beautifully complemented by the tartness of the berries...both N and I like our sweets quite mild so this one won us over. We go back each year to the temple not only to say 'Happy bday' to little Krishna but also to get a bite of that wonderful sheera he makes for us!

Here's my recipe:
Ingredients:
3-4 tbps butter (depending on how rich you want your pudding)
1 cup rawa (semolina, also called cream of wheat)
1/4 cup blueberries (frozen ones work well)
1/2 cup sugar (add more if you like it sweeter)
1 tbsp nuts (I used almonds)
1/4 tsp cardamom powder
2 cups water

Process:
-Melt the butter in a thick-bottom vessel and roast the rawa in the butter on low heat. Stir constantly until the rawa changes colour to a rich light brown colour and gives out a lovely aroma. The step should take about 5-7 mins
-Heat water and let it come to a boil. Add the blueberries, sugar and nuts to the water. Have the water ready and hot by the time your rawa is roasted.
-Once the rawa is roasted, add the hot water to the rawa (be careful!), the cardamom powder and mix everything thoroughly.
-Cover, lower the heat to minimum and let the rawa cook for about a couple minutes. Stir well and switch off the heat. Let it stand covered for another 2-3 minutes for all the flavours to come together.
-Serve hot for breakfast or cold for dessert.

Once done, your blueberry sheera should look like this:






N and I simply love this one and I hope you will too..Come back tomorrow for the pink platter! See you then!

Cheers,
V

P.S. Sorry for the late post today, but we have come to Seattle today and I am writing this one using the 'on-now-off-now' Internet connection at the hotel :)

11 comments:

Ms.Chitchat said...

Wow, awesome sheera. color is so tempting and inviting. Thanks a ton for sharing such an innovative recipe.

Chitchat

indosungod said...

That wonderful color. Looks gorgeous.

notyet100 said...

yum this looks,...

Vinaya said...

Ms.Chitchat,
Am glad you like the recipe..do try it out!

indosungod,
thank you :)

notyet100,
thanks!..yum its tasted too!

Linda said...

How pretty is that! I love the serving bowl, too. Haven't tried making sheera yet -- maybe it's time with blueberries :)

Aarti said...

hey..i like the color... yes, its a bit alarming for a sheera... but i wud love to taste...or maybe try?? do u get blueberries in india..?

Sheetal Kiran said...

Oh wow! My sheera world was limited to plain and the one we make with bananas as 'prasad' ... this I gotta try! It's spectacular!! And that color ...just gorgeous!

Ashwini said...

I just feel like taking a spoon and munching scoops of these right away. Amazing picture a well. Its been ages I had Sheera here, will make it soon. :)

Vinaya said...

Linda,
Thank you so much :)

Aarti,
Not sure if we get blueberries in India..it looks similar to karvanda but its just not the same!

Sheetal,
My sheera world was limited to apna same old banana one too..but believe me, I am now a big fan of this one!

Ashwini,
do try this one out..its totally worth the effort :)

Unknown said...

it looks so good can i have some please

Vinaya said...

of course Padmesh! just drop by home :)