Sapaada Bhakshya /Satyanarayana Prasada /ಸಪಾದ ಭಕ್ಷ್ಯ /ಸತ್ಯನಾರಾಯಣ ಪ್ರಸಾದ

The best part of the Sathyanarayana Pooja is the Sathyanarayana prasaada which is served in the end. It truly tastes devine :)It is also called Sapaada Bhakshya.
Sa means same,similar [ಸ - ಸಮಾನ]
Paada means one fourth, quarter.[ಪಾದ - ನಾಲ್ಕನೆಯ ಒಂದು ಅಂಶ, ಕಾಲುಭಾಗ]
So sapada bhaksha has 4 ingredients, each in the same quantity - namely Rava/sooji, Ghee, Sugar and Milk.

Servings: This recipe makes 15 - 20 rounds/balls.

Ingredients
1 cup Sooji/Semolina/Rave/ಸಣ್ಣರವೆ
[usually fine sooji is used]
1 cup milk /ಹಾಲು
1 cup ghee/ ತುಪ್ಪ
1 cup sugar/ ಸಕ್ಕರೆ
3-4 big ripe bananas/ ಬಾಳೆ ಹಣ್ಣು
Handful of cashews,raisins/ಗೋಡಂಬಿ,ವಣದ್ರಾಕ್ಷಿ
1/2 tsp cardamom powder/ಏಲಕ್ಕಿ ಪುಡಿ
few strands of saffron /ಕೇಸರಿ [optional]



Method :
Take 2 tbsp of ghee in a pan, heat on medium flame. add cashews, raisins and deep fry them in the ghee. Once done keep it aside.

Put 2 tbsp ghee in big pan/kadai. Add sooji and roast it on a medium flame till you get a nice aroma and a slight change in color. Keep the sooji aside. Peel bananas and cut into thin slices,keep aside.

Pour milk into the pan and bring it to a boil. Keep it on medium flame all the time. When the milk is coming to a boil add the banana pieces and half of the ghee. Then stir it for 2-3 minutes so the banana gets slight cooked. Add the saffron threads,cardamom powder.

Now add the roasted sooji slowly into the boiling milk, keep stirring it as you add sooji. Mix well and cover it. Leave it for 3-5 minutes till sooji gets cooked. Once sooji is all cooked, add the sugar, the remaining ghee, deep fried cashews and raisins. Mix well till sugar is dissolved and incorporated. The whole mixture starts comes together like a lump, that is when it is done so you can switch off the stove.

Usually Satyanarayana prasada is served as small rounds/balls. If you have had the prasada you how rich and tasty it is. Adding this quantity of ghee and sugar definitely makes the praasada melt in your mouth :)

For people who are calorie conscious, I am posting another version of the same recipe with lesser quantity of ghee and sugar.

1 cup Sooji
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 - 1/2 cup ghee
3 cups milk [OR 2 cups milk + 1 cup water]
3-4 big ripe bananas
Handful of cashews,raisins
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
few strands of saffron

Since we are using less ghee here, we need more milk to cook the sooji.The procedure is the same as above.

Click here to read how to perform Satyanarayana Pooja