JFI-Thari Kanchi/Rava Payasam

Thari Kanchi is not a kanchi(gruel or porridge) at all. It is a light sweetened hot drink made from milk with very little semolina and seasoned with nuts and raisins. Traditionally had while breaking the fast in the evening, it is supposed to settle the stomach. It also eases the cramps that arise from the sudden rush of food after a day of abstinence from any food and water.
Semolina (also known as Farina here) is known to be easily digestible and is given to kids as porridge. Though this drink, once seasoned with ghee(clarified butter) and nuts, is nowhere near the lumpy porridge.
Try it once and you may end up making it all through winter.Nothing like wrapping your cold hands around a steaming mug. Omit the shallots in the seasoning if you cannot bend your mind around it or if you cannot find it. It does add a characteristic taste and texture but try it either way.
This is my entry for JFI-Ghee & Butter being hosted by Cooking Medley!
You will need: For 4-5 servings
Farina/Semolina/Sooji/ Rava- 2 tbsp
Milk- 2 1/2 cups
Water- 1 ½ cup
Sugar-4 tbsp
Cardamom- ½ tsp powdered
Seasoning:
Ghee/Clarified Butter- 1 tbsp
Only Tiny Red Shallots- 1 finely chopped
Cashew nuts- 3-4 chopped
Raisins- 5-6
Preparation:
Combine the milk with water, bring it to a boil and add sugar. To this, add the rava/sooji and sugar. Simmer on low heat for 5-8 minutes, until everything merges well and the semolina cooks. Be careful not to let it boil over. Add the cardamom powder and add more sugar if needed. Take the mixture off the flame and let it absorb the flavors. The mixture should be the consistency of a watery shake/smoothie.
Seasoning: Heat ghee in a pan, and sauté the cashew nuts, raisins and shallots on low heat till they turn golden and remove from fire and pour over the milk mixture..

P.S. The water is added to regular full fat milk to thin it. If using low fat or fat free milk, use full 4 cups milk. There is no need to use water.
The drink will thicken after some time, so do not add too much semolina considering the drink to be too thin. If later it does turn too thick, just simmer it with more milk.
Do not try to use onions or any other kind of shallots or frozen shallots as substitute.