Poor old semolina has earned itself a bit of a bad reputation over the years, mostly due to British schools of yesteryear insisting on serving it as a frogspawn-style pudding. However, the humble grain has been busy serving people well in other parts of the world, like India, where this breakfast sooji (Hindi for ‘semolina’) hails from. 

Semolina is a flour made from ground durum wheat, and it’s rich in fibre, magnesium and folate – three nutrients that help keep your heart healthy. (As well as assisting your gut, fibre can lower cholesterol and reduce blood pressure.) This nutrient-dense grain is also packed with protein, helping to keep you fuller for longer. It’s a great breakfast food.

Coconut adds fibre and fat, helping your body better absorb fat-soluble nutrients (vitamins A, D, E and K), and the cashew nut butter topping provides further fibre and energy-boosting nutrients like magnesium, copper and manganese.

Make this veggie dish vegan by swapping ghee for coconut oil, using plant milk instead of dairy milk and omitting the honey – try agave or coconut nectar.

Serves: 4

1 tbsp ghee or coconut oil

100g (3½oz) fine semolina (farina)

2 tbsp desiccated (shredded) coconut

¼ tsp ground cardamom

1 tbsp golden caster (superfine) sugar

450ml (2 cups) milk or non-dairy alternative

Cashew or almond nut butter, honey or dark chocolate chips, to serve

1. Heat the ghee (or coconut oil) in a shallow pan, add the semolina and coconut and whisk over a medium heat to toast. After about 5–7 minutes you should be able to smell a gorgeous nutty, buttery aroma – and certainly see the mixture get a little darker.

 2. Add the cardamom and sugar, then the milk, half at a time, being careful that it does not splash when you add it. Keep whisking – the semolina will thicken within about 2–3 minutes. The mixture should be thick enough to eat with a spoon. 

3. Top with a spoonful of nut butter and a little teaspoonful of set honey. Add dark chocolate chips if you wish.

Recipe taken from Modern South Asian Kitchen by Sabrina Gidda (Quadrille, £27), out now. 

Image: Maria Bell