Meethi Sev/Sweet Vermicelli

EVENT: FOODIES_ REDOING OLD POSTS #34
RECIPE: MEETHI SEV/SWEET VERMICELLI
What is Meethi Sev/Sweet Vermicelli ?
As the name indicates meethi sev/sweet vermicelli is vermicelli that is sweet. This is one of the easiest ever sweet dish or mithai (mishtaan) to prepare. Boil some vermicelli as per the instructions on the packet. Drain out the water. Mix powdered sugar and ghee (clarified butter) and hey presto its ready. One can add cardamom powder, chopped nuts for that extra flavour.
What is Vermicelli?
Vermicelli is a type of pasta which is much thinner than spaghetti. The word vermicelli comes from the Italian word for little worms. And worms are not used to make vermicelli. Incidentally, these days vermicelli also refers to the thin rice noodles that is commonly found in South East Asian Cuisine. By the way, vermicelli is widely used in many countries for either sweet or savoury preparations. In the Indian Sub Continent it is known as sevai, seviyan and is made from refined flour or rice flour. The one we get in Kenya is usually made from wheat flour.
Mum’s Meethi Sev/ Sweet Vermicelli
As I mentioned before, I grew up in a joint family. My mum would make something sweet to go with our Gujarati meal on Saturdays as that’s the day my dad would get time to relax a bit and enjoy his meal. No rushing back to the shop on Saturdays as my cousins and uncle took care of them. On her list to prepare sweet dish would be:
- Lapsi
- Sev with milk – sev kheer/seviyan
- Shrikhand
- Aamras (during mango season)
- Meethi Sev
- Shiro
- or sometimes simply Ghee Kera
Other sweet dishes or mishtaan like doodh pak, basundi, ladwa, puran poli, magas, mohanthal, boondi ladwa, would be reserved for special occasions like Diwali or birthdays. As a matter of fact, my mum handled the kitchen and all the cooking by herself till my uncle got married. I would help her whenever possible. Making meals on her own meant that she had to look for some easy recipes like meethi sev.
Memories – Satisfying my craving by making Meethi Sev/Sweet Vermicelli
While waiting for hubby dear to get back home for lunch, I suddenly had a craving for something sweet – Indian sweet or mishtaan to be more specific. I think what they say about letting oneself get so hungry that you start craving for sugar is so true. Hubby was stuck with some patients. Repeatedly, kept thinking of some Indian sweet. Suddenly the sugar starved brain flashed, blinked, sweet sev, meethi sev, sweet sev. Immediately rushed to the kitchen, got the ingredients together and began making meethi sev. Rachel, my maid who was quietly and gingerly working on utensils, suddenly felt as though a tornado had hit her and not Oklahama. She decided to quickly leave the kitchen to tackle some other work leaving me to my antics.
Meethi Sev was ready in five minutes and hubby walked in! Otherwise, meethi sev would have been my main meal!
Ingredients required for Meethi Sev/Sweet Vermicelli
- Vermicelli – thin and not the pre roasted one.
- Water – for boiling the vermicelli
- Powdered Sugar – can use icing sugar or confectioners sugar. Or simply grind sugar at home.
- Ghee – clarified butter. To add a little to the boiling water and to add to the cooked vermicelli
- Cardamom Powder – add according to your taste
- Nuts – coarsely chop nuts of your choice or cut into slivers.
Dietary Tips:
- I once tried rice vermicelli and the meethi sev didn’t taste like what the family is use to.
- I have no idea how it would taste with coconut oil if replaced for a vegan version. If you do try it with coconut oil let me know.
- Suitable for vegetarian
THE GROUP FOODIES _ REDOING OLD POSTS
Updated on 11/09/2020
Meethi Sev/Sweet Vermicelli is one of my favorite mishtaan, probably because its not only an easy recipe but also reminds me of my mum. The first time I made this dish for the blog, the photos were horrendous! As I prepared a Gujarati Thali for the blog, it gave me the opportunity to retake better photos.
The group Foodies _ Redoing Old Posts, allows me to redo my old post, of which I have a large number. Breathing new life into them with new photos and better write up is what I like. Its a bi monthly group, where members redo old posts and share on Facebook. That way we are able to get some bloggers’ love towards our forgotten posts. The idea of redoing old posts as a group was Renu’s idea. Renu blogs at Cook With Renu.
Some Vermicelli Recipes:
- For a different style of sweet vermicelli you may want to check out Mina’s Sweet Vermicelli with Jaggery recipe (Gor Vari Sev).
- Renu adds vermicelli to her instant Semolina and Vermicelli Idli
- Jolly makes Meethi Sev by adding sugar syrup.

MEETHI SEV/ SWEET VERMICELLI
Ingredients
FOR MEETHI SEV/SWEET VERMICELLI
- 2 cups vermicelli broken into manageable size
- 3 cups water
- 1 tsp ghee
- 1 tsp cardamom powder
- 3 tbsp mixed nuts chopped coarsely
- 1 tbsp ghee
FOR SERVING MEETHI SEV/SWEET VERMICELLI
- 8-10 tbsp powdered sugar
- 4 tbsp ghee
Instructions
PREPARATION OF VERMICELLI/SEV
- Bring 3 cups of water to a rolling boil in a deep saucepan.
- Add 1 tsp ghee and the broken sev or vermicelli.
- Let it boil as per the instructions on the packet. Usually 2-3 minutes is enough.
- Drain out the water.
- Immediately drizzle 1 tbsp ghee over the cooked sev and mix gently so it doesn't stick.
- Sprinkle the cardamom powder and coarsely chopped nuts. Mix.
SERVING MEETHI SEV/SWEET VERMICELLI
- Just beofre serving add ghee and powdered sugar according to your taste and mix well. Serve.
- Or serve melted ghee and powdered sugar on the side. People can add both according to their taste.
Notes
- Can add a bit of nutmeg powder if you like
- I usually use almonds and pistachios. Use any nuts of your choice.
Pin for Later:
A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962
22 Comments
Poonam Bachhav
September 22, 2020 at 1:31 pm
Sometimes simplest of the things are the best. Never thought that making a delectable looking dessert could be so easy. I am trying this meethi sev recipe today itself. Would share my feedback with you. Thanks for the share.
mayurisjikoni
September 22, 2020 at 8:31 pm
Thank you so much Poonam, and please do share a feed back or click.
Superduper kitchen
September 22, 2020 at 5:14 pm
I wonder how many ways we can make meethi sev. This is such a ready to do sweet which is easy, less time consuming yet delicious. Also I hope in India too we ll start getting wheat vermicelli to make it healthier.
mayurisjikoni
September 22, 2020 at 8:29 pm
Thank you so much Niranjana, and yes its a quick easy and delicious recipe. You can use the normal vermicelli you get in India.
Malini
September 22, 2020 at 5:15 pm
Wow. It is such a quick and delicious dessert. We can make it in a jiffy. I usually make payasam with vermicelli but this could be a nice alternative. I am going to try this out for the next occasion.
mayurisjikoni
September 22, 2020 at 8:27 pm
Thank you so much Malini, we too make sev kheer but this one always comes handy when we need to make something sweet in a jiffy.
Hem lata srivastava
September 22, 2020 at 8:24 pm
Mayuri your meethi sevainyan or sevayin looks so delicious , I am drooling here. Nice preparation and presentation too.
mayurisjikoni
September 22, 2020 at 8:25 pm
Thank you so much Hem Lata and its so easy to prepare.
Hem lata srivastava
September 22, 2020 at 8:42 pm
Usually we make sevain kheer next time I will surely try it. It looks yummm
mayurisjikoni
September 22, 2020 at 10:53 pm
Thanks Hem Lata, I too make milk seviyan but sometimes a quick mithai like meethi sev comes in handy.
Swati
September 22, 2020 at 8:58 pm
Love this version of seviyan without any milk.I have not had it since ages. mom used to make it sometimes when we were kids. I am going to make it soon Looks so delectable and it is so easy and quick to make…
mayurisjikoni
September 22, 2020 at 10:51 pm
Thank you so much Swati. Make it and bring back childhood memories.
kalyani
September 23, 2020 at 12:40 pm
WHile I make Sevai kheer with vermicelli, this is very new and delicious 🙂 I think as u rightly said -a few hours of hunger makes one crave for sugar ,,, lol 🙂 I am partial to the sweet lapsi that my grandmom used to make for prashad sometimes..
mayurisjikoni
September 24, 2020 at 10:56 pm
Thanks Kalyani. I too make sevai kheer, but this is a quick recipe that my mum would make whenever my dad brought unexpected guests home for lunch.
Jayashree T.Rao
September 23, 2020 at 1:12 pm
Meethi Sev, I am yet to try but seeing both your recipes, I am tempted to. It is a quick dessert one can make. Looks delicious.
mayurisjikoni
September 24, 2020 at 10:54 pm
Thanks Jayashree. Please do try out the easy recipe.
Preethicuisine
September 24, 2020 at 2:08 am
Sweet vermicelli looks lip smacking. Your recipe is so quick and easy. We make payasam but never tried sweet vermicelli. Another dessert recipe added to my list. Loved the nuts on top.
mayurisjikoni
September 24, 2020 at 10:52 pm
Thanks Preethi, do try out this easy recipe.
Sowmya Srihari
September 29, 2020 at 12:34 pm
Wow! Such a simple and tempting looking dish. I have always made savory dishes with vermicelli. This is so unique
mayurisjikoni
September 29, 2020 at 6:15 pm
Thanks Sowmya, please do try it, you’ll probably enjoy it.
Archana
September 30, 2020 at 7:12 am
O making meetha sev is so simple? I don’t know why I had made a mountain out of it in my mind. Love it ! And definitely must try.
mayurisjikoni
September 30, 2020 at 2:30 pm
Archana, there are two methods, one with the sugar syrup and then this easy one. I always make this version.