Is this the best banana Halavah recipe???

[krsna]

Banana Halavah (Kela Halavah)

• 6 bananas
  
• 1 &1/2 t cardamom seeds(peeled)
  
• 4 T butter
  
• 1 & 1/2 cups water
  
• 2 T blanched almonds
  
• 1 t rose water
  
• saffron

Melt butter in a heavy skillet. Peel and cut bananas into 1 inch pieces. Fry in butter 5-7 minutes on medium heat. Stir often and mash after they have fried for 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water. Simmer with care on low heat for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir the sugar into the remaining 1 cup water and add to the bananas. Boil gently 15 minutes. Stir often to prevent scorching, and also to thicken mixture. Add rose water, remove and pour into a shallow dish. Bruise the cardamom seeds and sprinkle on halavah. Sliver the almonds, and sprinkle enough saffron to colour the halavah golden. Offer hot or cold.

[krsna]

by Kurma das the chef

 

Semolina halava is the most popular dessert served at any of the Hare Krishna restaurants worldwide. This version of the famous hot, fluffy pudding with juicy raisins, raw sugar, and walnut pieces rates high in the "halava-top-ten". I have cooked halava for 4 or 5 persons and for 1500 persons; either way, following the same basic steps yields equally stunning results.

The secret of good halava is to roast the semolina very slowly for at least 20 minutes, with enough butter so as not to scorch the grains. Steam the finished halava over very low heat with a tight-fitting lid for 5 minutes to fully plump the semolina grains; then allow it to sit covered for another 5 minutes. Fluffy, plump grained halava is best served hot, on its own, or with a spoonful of cream or custard. Serves 6 - 8 persons, or a couple of halava addicts.

 

• 2½ cups water
  
• 1¼ cups raw sugar
  
• 140 g unsalted butter, or ghee (1 ounce = 28.35 grams)
  
• 1¼ cups coarse-grained semolina (farina) - the more coarse the better 1/3 cup walnut pieces, or any nuts, or none at all a splash of pure rosewater 1 or 2 large, firm but ripe bananas, sliced fairly thinly

 

Combine the water and sugar in a 2-litre saucepan. Place over moderate heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to very low and cover with a tight-fitting lid.

Melt the butter or ghee in a 2- or 3-litre non-stick saucepan and over fairly low heat, stirring occasionally. Add the semolina. Slowly and rhythmically stir-fry the grains until they darken to a tan colour and become aromatic (about 20 minutes). Add the walnut pieces about halfway through the roasting. Stirring more carefully, raise the heat under the grains.

Raise the heat under the sugar water and bring the syrup to a rolling boil.

Remove the saucepan of semolina and butter from the heat, slowly pouring the hot syrup into the semolina, stirring steadily. The grains may at first splutter, but will quickly cease as the liquid is absorbed. Return the pan to the stove and stir steadily over low heat until the grains fully absorb the liquid, start to form into a pudding-like consistency, and pull away from the sides of the pan. Place a tight-fitting lid on the saucepan and cook over the lowest possible heat for 2 more minutes. Turn off the heat, splash in the rosewater, fold in the banana, and allow the halava to firm up, covered and off the heat, for an additional 5 minutes. Serve hot in dessert bowls as it is, or with the toppings suggested above.