OPOS Pineapple Sheera / Kesari

The best tasting sheera is, when it is made for a puja. But it was always one made with bananas. I always thought there was one way of making sheera, that was either plain or as a variation (and strictly on puja )with bananas. The thought that any other fruit can be used was alien. 

Imagine my surprise and delight when I tried a spoonful of Pineapple sheera! It was a flavor bomb and I was left craving more.

When M came to see me ( the arranged marriage scenario) we served him Pineapple Sheera, to date I wonder if that clinched the deal.

Here I have made this sheera /kesari using OPOS (One Pot One Shot) method, developed by Chef Rama Krishna, which cut down on time and extra steps. 

OPOS method uses layering method and cooking on high heat for a short time. This ensures that food is cooked properly, retains nutrients and also color (for vegetables like ivy gourd, spinach beans).

Here is my recipe, inspired by OPOS technique.

1/2 cup, Double roasted Rava*

3/4 Cup Sugar (1 cup, if you like it sweet)

1 cup Pineapple chunks

3 Tbsp Ghee 

2-3 Cloves

a few Raisins (optional)

Saffron strands (optional) 

1/8 tsp Pineapple Essence

2-3 drops Yellow food color (optional)

Pinch salt

2 Cardamom pods, powdered

1 cup Water

* If you are in India, you can easily get double roasted rava in any grocery store. If you cannot get your hands on any, roast rava over medium flame, cool and roast it again. This can be stored and used as needed.


To start off, (since I do not get double roasted rava), heat 1 tsp ghee and add cloves to it, once the ghee is perfumed, add the rava and roast it till it is aromatic and a few shades dark.

In a 2L pressure cooker, add 1 cup water, sugar, pineapple chunks, ghee, cardamom powder, saffron (if using)

Cook on high heat for 1 whistle (ensure that the heat does not come up the sides of the cooker it covers the bottom/ base only). Switch off the heat and in a couple of minutes, manually release the pressure. Be VERY careful, do not apply force. Use a spatula or tongs to lift up the whistle and let the steam escape. 

Open the pressure cooker and slowly add the roasted rava, stirring continuously to avoid lumps. 

Seal the cooker and let the mixture cook in the retained heat. Do not switch on the stove. 

Wait for 10 mins. to let the rava cook and absorb all the liquid.
Open and stir gently to ensure it is all mixed well.
Serve warm.

Notes:

-You can use Bananas instead of Pineapple (or fruit of your choice, ex banana, mango)

-Cloves pair well with pineapple sheera, if using another fruit, avoid these, cardamom should do the job.

- As always, make sure you standardize your equipment, if you haven't, here's how.