Thursday, March 31, 2011  Cracked Wheat Pudding (Lapsi)  Lapsi
is a sweet North Indian pudding or porridge similar to the
semolina pudding (siro or sooji halwa) I featured previously on
this blog. It seems to be most common in Gujarat but is also
made in nearby Rajasthan and Maharashtra.  Lapsi is often
prepared for Divali and other auspicious events such as
birthdays, anniversaries, when opening a new business, or moving
into a new home. In Hinduism, it is also made as prasad
(Sanskrit for gracious gift), a religious offering to a deity
which is then distributed and consumed.  Broken wheat is not
refined, and as such maintains the nutrients that are present in
whole wheat. It is a complex carbohydrate so particularly
suitable for those with diabetes.  There is also a savory lapsi
made with spices, chillis, and vegetables which I have never
tried.  Serves 12-16  10 ounces unsalted butter ( 2 1/2 sticks)
2lb cracked wheat (also known as dalia, crushed raw wholewheat
berry, broken wheat, bulgar) 1 cup fine swee