Makhana sheera for Navratri day three: a quick fasting-friendly sweet for Goddess Chandraghanta
Makhana sheera can be offered to the goddess on the third day of Navratri and eaten during the fast, and it takes only a few minutes to make.
Images are not validated/verified
Navratri began on October 11 and will run until October 19. The nine forms of the goddess are worshipped during the festival, and each day she is offered a saree of a new colour, prasad and flowers.
The third day is dedicated to Goddess Chandraghanta. A sweet dish is offered to the goddess every day, and makhana sheera can be a good choice.
Makhana (fox nuts) is considered quite nutritious and is also eaten during fasts. After it is offered to the goddess, the sheera can be eaten during the fast as well. It needs neither much time nor many ingredients, and is ready in just a few minutes.
The ingredients are: 1 cup makhana, 10 to 12 cashew nuts, 10 to 12 almonds, 2 tablespoons semolina (rava), 1 cup milk, 3 to 4 tablespoons desi ghee and half a cup of sugar.
To make it, first heat the ghee in a pan. Add the makhana and roast it well for a few minutes. Then add the cashews and almonds to the same ghee and roast them for a few minutes until fragrant.
Once the makhana, cashews and almonds have cooled, put them in a mixer jar and add a little semolina. Grind everything into a powder.
Now place a second pan on the stove and add ghee. When the ghee is hot, add the sugar and let it cook on low heat. Once the sugar dissolves, add the ground powder to the pan and keep roasting it on low heat.
Finally, add cardamom powder. When the sheera is well cooked and gives off a fragrance, switch off the gas. Jaggery can be used instead of sugar if preferred.
