Is Sooji the same thing as Semolina?

Question

I don't have a indian/pakistani grocery store nearby and I want to make halwa! Help!

Answer 1

Yes, you can buy good old Cream of Wheat (instant, 2.5 minute....) and substitute it in any sooji/rava recipe.

Sheera (or Halwa) is a typical Indian sweet dish made with semolina (known as either “rava” or “sooji” in India). It is sweetened with sugar and flavored with aromatic spices, nuts and raisins. Sheera can be eaten for breakfast, served with afternoon tea or eaten as a dessert. It is very easy to prepare and simply heavenly to eat. It is the quintessential comfort food and always a favorite in my house.

If you don’t have semolina, you can always use good old Cream of Wheat. It works just as well and tastes great (just buy the PLAIN instant, 1 minute or 2½ minute varieties). Rava or sooji is easily available in every Indian grocery store and comes in coarse, fine and superfine varieties (all will work but will have varying textures).

SHEERA (Sweetened Semolina with Raisins & Nuts)

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 cup semolina (rava, sooji or Cream of Wheat)

¾ cup sugar (to taste)*

3 tbsp butter (unsalted) or ghee (clarified butter)

1 cup milk (can use 2%, 1% or even skim milk)

¼ cup raisins

¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted

¼ cup cashew pieces, toasted

2-3 cardamom pods (lightly crushed)

pinch of saffron

pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

METHOD:

In a large flat skillet on medium high, heat the butter and add the semolina when just melted. Keep stirring continuously so as not to burn until the semolina turns light brown in color and a nutty fragrance is emitted. Also, add the raisins. This may take up to 5-6 minutes. Simultaneously on another burner, in a saucepan on medium, gently bring the milk to a low boil. Add the saffron and let steep for 5 minutes. Add the warmed saffron milk slowly, while stirring, to the toasted semolina, raisin and butter mixture so as not to form any lumps. Stir to combine well, reduce the heat to low, cover and let simmer for 4-5 minutes. Stir and add the sugar, nuts, freshly grated nutmeg and the cardamom pods. Cover and let cook for an additional 5 minutes. Serve immediately and enjoy!

VARIATIONS:

For a different flavor try adding an over ripe mashed banana to the sheera just after adding the warmed saffron milk.

*You can also making this dish using Splenda for Cooking and Baking.

PS:  I always agree with David H!  He really knows his stuff!!

Answer 2

Desi Chef is right, I make the same dish she does and you can use cream of wheat, but most supermarkets have a international aisle and semolina is in the area around the Italian specialties as they use it for pasta. I use it for non egg pastas and euro dumplings.

Desi Chef will agree, good semolina is finer and more light than the normal cream of wheat, but in a pinch it is fine, for halwa and sooji I would use the longer cooking one it absorbs more water or milk.

Answer 3

yes:

Sooji

Recipe #279100 | 20 min | add private note

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By: Chef QT

Jan 15, 2008

Sweet (Semolina) Indian Pudding, is the perfect comfort food, makes a soft melt in your mouth consistency...Yum!

SERVES 4 (change servings and units)

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Ingredients

1 cup semolina

2 pieces cinnamon sticks

125 g butter

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup water

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

desiccated coconut (optional)

http://www.recipezaar.com/279100

Answer 4

Farina and Cream-of-wheat are best substitutes. Semolina is acceptable substitute

http://www.indiacurry.com/bread/soojisub...

Sooji Substitutes - American Flours

Farina Cream-of-wheat and Semolina are considered as a substitute for Sooji

Sooji

Sooji is a granular sand-like gritty flour made of any available wheat. The bran is hulled and removed. The endosperm and germ are milled to produce Sooji

Rava is a grittier Sooji used in South India

Best Substitute: Farina, Cream-of-Wheat

The bran and the germ are sifted out. The endosperm of any wheat other than Durum is milled to a gritty flour.  The grittiness of Farina is same as Sooji

Cream of Wheat is a brand name, the softer wheat is steel cut to produce cream-of-wheat.

Good Substitute: Semolina

The bran and the germ are sifted out. The endosperm of Durum wheat is milled to a gritty flour.  The grittiness of Semolina is same as Sooji and Farina.