Bombay rava facts for kids

Rava idli, a yummy South Indian dish made from semolina.

Bombay rava, also called ravva or sooji, is a special kind of semolina. It's made from a strong type of wheat called durum wheat. People in India use rava a lot in their cooking. You can find it in many delicious dishes, both savoury (not sweet) and sweet!

What is Bombay Rava?

Bombay rava is a popular ingredient in Indian kitchens. It's made by grinding wheat grains after their outer husks are removed. This process turns the wheat into small, grainy pieces. While there are different types of semolina, Bombay rava is often made from a finer flour called maida, which makes it very smooth.

How is Rava Made?

Making rava involves a cool process! Imagine a flour mill, also known as a chakki. When wheat is ground into flour, some leftover bits remain. These bits are then passed through a very fine screen or mesh. This helps to separate the super fine flour from the slightly coarser rava. It's like sifting sand to get different sizes of grains!

Delicious Dishes with Rava

Rava is super versatile and can be used to make a wide range of tasty foods. It's a staple in many Indian homes, especially in South India.

Savoury Treats

In South India, rava is famous for making dishes like upma, which is a popular breakfast. It's a warm, comforting dish often cooked with vegetables and spices. Rava is also used to make some types of dosa, especially the crispy rava dosa. Other savoury dishes include different kinds of khichdis.

Sweet Delights

But wait, there's more! Rava is also used to create amazing sweet treats. In North India, you might find sooji halwa, a sweet pudding. In South India, a similar sweet dish is called rava kesari or kesari bath. You can also make yummy rava ladoos, which are sweet, round balls perfect for a snack or dessert.