Pineapple kesari is a delicious dessert that is aromatic. It is from South India. This dessert is made with semolina (sooji), ghee, sugar, and juicy chunks of pineapple. Sweet pineapples give this dessert a distinctive flavor. The subtle aroma of ghee and the texture of semolina add to its appeal. Don’t forget to garnish with some nuts for added crunch and flavor. Enjoy this pineapple kesari as a perfect ending to any meal or as a sweet indulgence on its own.
Pineapple Kesari is a rich, fruity twist on the classic South Indian semolina sweet. Rawa is roasted in ghee for a nutty aroma, while cashews and raisins are fried until golden and set aside. Fresh pineapple is cooked until soft, cooled, and blended into a smooth puree. Boiling water is then used to cook the roasted rawa into a thick, soft halwa, after which sugar and the pineapple puree are stirred in continuously to keep it smooth and lump-free. A few drops of kesari/yellow colour and a final spoon of ghee add sheen and festive colour. Once the mixture starts leaving the sides of the pan, it’s finished with cardamom and the fried nuts and raisins—optionally boosted with a couple drops of pineapple essence for extra fragrance (and you can reduce sugar if the pineapple is naturally sweet).
Pineapple Kesari Recipe
Pineapple Kesari
5
servings5
minutes15
minutesA simple sweet recipe made with pineapple and rava.
Ingredients
Rawa – 1 cup
Pineapple chopped finely – 1 cup
Sugar – 2 cups
Ghee – 4 to 6 tablespoons
Cashew nuts – few
Raisins – few
Cardamom powder – 1 teaspoon
Kesari or yellow colour – few drops
Directions
- In a kadai, put two tablespoon ghee and fry the rawa. Remove it.
- In the same kadai, put one tablespoon ghee and fry cashew nuts and raisins separately and keep it aside.
- Add half cup water to pineapple pieces and cook till soft. (You can microwave it also). Cool it and grind to a fine puree.
- In a heavy bottomed vessel pour two cups of water and bring to boil.
- When it is boiling add the rawa and stir continuously till the rawa is thick and cooked soft. Now add sugar and pineapple puree and stir continuously. Make sure there is no lump.
- Add few drops of kesari or yellow colour and mix well. Add ghee now.
- Kesari will leave the sides of the vessel. Now add cardamom powder, fried cashew nuts and raisins and mix well and remove from stove.
- Tips:
- You can add 2 or 3 drops of pineapple essence at the end to get nice flavour of pineapple. If the pineapple is sweet, then you can reduce the sugar to 1 and half cups.
Definitely one of my favorite desserts!! 🙂
Hi Kalai, You can even add a cup of pineapple juice while cooking this kesari.
This sounds delicious :).
We would like to feature your pineapple recipe on our blog. Please email [email protected] if interested. Thanks 🙂
You can view our blog here:
blog.keyingredient.com/
Hi Sophie, I have separately sent an e-mail to you. I thank you for your interest and you may please feature the recipe in your blog.
Hi,
I tried out the recipe yesterday, and it came out really well!
Had little problem, when i put rawa in boiling water. Rawa absorbed all the water and became thick immediately. I was worried if it may form lumps, so added some extra water. Think I overcooked the rawa.. became a bit mashy! But overall… it tasted great, and everyone at home appreciated!
Thanks for the recipe!
Anee
Hi Anee,
Yes. When you put rawa in boiling water, it will become solid and when you add sugar, it will become semi solid and start cooking again. Normally for 1 cup rawa 2 cups of water is sufficient. If you find it is mushy, you can add little more ghee and put it in microwave to get the correct consistency.
Thanks for that tip! There was a party at my workplace today and I prepared Pineapple kesari as a dessert! People loved it and appreciated! After coming to the US, I was badly missing Indian food! Your site is very helpful! Your prompt response to our doubts really helps beginner cooks like me! Thanks!
Anee..
Hi Anee
I really appreciate your trying this recipe for the party and happy to note that it turned out good. Thank you for posting your feedback.
Hi Kamala,
Really its a gr8 job replying for the comments we give. As all said i too have tried many dishes from your site and came out really well. onething i learnt is we have to put exact ingredients and the spoons u specify. If we put some more extra water or something else sure e cant get the real taste. u r doing a gr8 job thanks
Thank you Sharmila for your very encouraging words. Interacting with my readers is always a pleasure for me.