Suji ki Kheer | Rava Payasam

Suji ki Kheer or Rava Kheer or Rava Payasam is a super quick, easy and tasty pudding made with semolina, milk, nuts and flavored with cardamom powder. The Sooji Kheer or Rava Kheer recipe gets done in about 20 minutes and is so simple that even a newbie can make it easily. I usually make this Sooji Kheer like the way I make Seviyan Kheer. This dessert fits in well as festive food too. So, make it during Diwali, Holi, etc. and enjoy with your families. Here are some more Diwali Sweets Recipes that are absolutely try worthy.

About Suji ki Kheer

Suji Kheer is one of the variations of the classic Indian Kheer made with basmati rice. As I have mentioned above, this kheer is made with rava or suji; which is ground coarse semolina or cream of wheat.

Whole milk, nuts, raisins and green cardamom powder are some more ingredients added to the Rava Payasam.

I keep the consistency of this Sooji Kheer a bit thin and not thick like a porridge. But if you like a slightly thick porridge consistency, then you can simmer it for more time. In this case, add less sugar than what is mentioned in the recipe.

While makig the Rava Payasam, at times, I add some extra ghee (clarified butter). However, you can reduce the amount of ghee. The addition of ghee makes the Sooji Kheer richer and flavorful.

In this Sooji Kheer recipe, I have added cashews, raisins and chironji (charoli). If you want, then you can also add chopped almonds and sliced pistachios.

The quantity of these can vary as per your taste and preference. So, feel free to include dry fruits of your choice or whatever is available in your pantry.

With rava or suji, many popular Indian sweets are made. A few of them that I have shared are Rava Laddu | Suji Halwa | Rava Kesari.

How to make Suji ki Kheer

1. Heat 1 tablespoon ghee in a thick bottomed pan or sauce pan.

2. Add 2 tablespoons cashews and fry them in the ghee for about 1 minute on low heat.

If you want to add almonds and pistachios to the dish, then add the chopped almonds and sliced pistachios at this step.

3. Add 3 tablespoons sooji (rava or semolina).

4. Sauté and stir continuously on low heat.

5. The sooji would start to release its aroma. You will also see ghee separating from the sooji. Takes about 3 to 4 minutes on low heat.

Stir continuously so that the sooji gets fried evenly. The cashews would also become golden by then.

6. Add 3 cups milk to the pan and stir to combine.

7. Then add 4 to 4.5 tablespoons raw sugar (or white sugar) and stir again. If using edible camphor, add now.

I generally add edible camphor, when I am offering the sweet as bhog or naivedyam to our beloved deities.

8. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Simmer on low heat until the rava granules are softened. Cook for about 11 to 12 minutes on low heat after you add the sugar.

9. Lastly add ¼ teaspoon green cardamom powder (4 cardamoms crushed to a powder in a mortar-pestle ), 1 tablespoon raisins (kishmish) and 1 tablespoon chironji or charoli (optional).

10. Stir the kheer and turn off the heat.

11. Serve Sooji Kheer or Rava Payasam hot, warm or refrigerate and then serve chilled. You can also have it with Poori or as an after-dinner dessert.

How to serve Rava Payasam

This Rava Payasam works extremely well as an after-dinner dessert. You can serve it hot, warm or chilled. It also tastes supreme when served with poori or paratha.

Overall, a hassle-free dessert that does not take much time to prepare and yet tastes good. This Sooji Kheer is a definite hit during all your festive celebrations too.

This Suji ki Kheer recipe from the blog archives first published in October 2014 has been updated and republished on September 2023.