Name: Mango kesari (mango halwa, mango sheera)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1½ cups mango (ripe, chopped, sweet (choose the pulpy variety)); ¾ cup sugar; 1 pinch kesar (/ saffron (optional) best quality ); 4 green cardamoms ( powdered); 1 cup kesar rava (/ medium broken wheat rava or semolina); 1½ cups water; 4 tbsps Ghee ( (use at least 3 tbsp))

Mango kesari, also known as mango halwa or mango sheera, is an easy dessert made with ripe mangoes, semolina, cardamoms, sugar, nuts and raisins. Past 6 weeks just went on busy with kids’ holidays and a trip to India. During our trips to India, I have the pleasure of enjoying organic fruits either from our farm or from generous relatives and friends who send them across for us. There were a lot of organic mangoes sent by my uncle. To use up the surplus mangoes I made this mango halwa.

This mango kesari recipe is adapted from my pineapple rava kesari which I shared earlier. But this time I went ahead using bansi rava. If you are a health nut like me, go ahead and use broken wheat but if it is the taste and the color that matters, use semolina.

To make this mango kesari recipe, I have used a bit of saffron that goes good with mango flavor. If you don’t have just skip it but that gives a good bright color.

We personally love the moist looking kesari rather than the greasy one, so I use more of the mango pulp. you can reduce it to half the quantity mentioned in the recipe.

How to make mango kesari

1. Blend mango, cardamom powder, saffron and sugar to a smooth puree. If u have time set this aside for about 15 minutes, this lends a good color naturally to the kesari.

2. Add semolina to a heavy bottom pot or pan. On a medium to low heat, dry roast till you get an aroma. Do not brown the rava but it has to turn crunchy and aromatic. Transfer this to a bowl.

3. Add ghee and heat it. Add cashews. When they are lightly fried, add raisins and fry till they swell. Transfer the cashews and raisins to a small bowl.

frying rava for mango kesari recipe or mango sheera

4. To the same pan, add 1.5 cups of water and bring it to a boil.

5. Add rava in a stream slowly and keep string with another hand. You must be quick in string and slow in adding raw to prevent lumps.

6. Break any lumps and stir it gently. Cook covered on a low heat till all the water evaporates.

pour rava for mango kesari recipe or mango sheera

7. Add 1 tbsp. Ghee. Mix well.

8. Add the puréed mango and sugar mixture. Mix gently. Continue to cook on a low to medium flame for about 7 to 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Off the stove and keep the mango sheera covered for at least 10 to 15 minutes.