Just what is suji in English? Find out more about this ingredient, including how to use it in your recipes.
If you want to try your hand at Indian cuisine, you may find recipes that call for suji or rawa. Suji in English is granulated wheat, better known as semolina.
You may also see it spelt as sooji, but both suji and sooji are Hindi words. You will commonly find that the word suji is used in North India, whereas rawa is used in South India.
Upma
A traditional breakfast dish in India is Upma, which originated in South India. It is almost like a thick oatmeal, but with a savory twist.
You can get very creative with this and add in whatever flavors you like, so you can tweak it to match your preferences.
To make upma you will need:
- Suji or semolina
- Olive oil
- Indian mustard seed
- Urad dal
- Curry leaves
- Onions
- Carrots
- Frozen peas
- Salt
- Plain yogurt
- Cashews, nuts or fruit to garnish
Try the full semolina upma recipe!
Rava Laddoo
Rava Laddoo is a highly popular sweet dish in India which is quick and easy to make, but tastes wonderful.
To make it you will need:
- Suji or semolina
- Ghee
- Sugar
- Milk
- Cashews
- Raisins
Rava Laddoo
Ingredients
- 500 grams Fine Semolina
- 6 tablespoons Ghee
- 1 1/2 cups Granulated Sugar
- 2 cups Milk
- 1/2 cup Cashews chopped
- 1/2 cup Raisins
Instructions
- Place a deep pan over medium heat and add in the ghee once hot. Melt the ghee and add in the cashews and raisins, frying for 2 – 3 minutes.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and drain them on a paper towel.
- Add semolina to the ghee and mix well, stirring it often until it begins to show a light golden color and you can smell it cooking.
- Add in the sugar and mix well to combine.
- Gently and slowly add in the milk, stirring constantly to stop any lumps from forming. Cook until thickened and it is coming away from the sides of the pan.
- Add the cashews and raisins back in and mix well. Remove the heat and cool until it can be handled.
- Take a little of the mixture at a time and roll into balls the size of limes (Laddoos), ensuring they are smooth and firm. Transfer to a greased dish and leave to sit for about 30 minutes to firm up.
- You can now enjoy them or store them in an airtight container for up to a week.