Welcome aboard!

Indian cuisine is a riot of colours, flavours, and spices. Every state has its own unique culture- ingrained taste bud. And, to many of us staying within familiar tastes is a sacrosanct act. Of course an occasional trip to a speciality restaurant that serves another fare is ok. But, as a matter of routine ...at home...NO!

One of the benefits of being born to parents who dared an interstate marriage (am talking about India of the 70's) was being able to widen a regional taste bud to accept, experiment and, relish eclectic cuisines :-)

I love food! Be it traditional or fusion, cooking is all about turning out fare that is tasty and healthy.I welcome all lovers of good food to come on aboard and share your kitchen adventures.

If you like what you see, do leave a comment. If you don't, please leave a suggestion to help me make this better.

You can also request for any recipe you want. Just leave a note in a comment box.

Happy cooking!

Dershana

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Nutty Surprise

I love nuts! And peanuts top my personal list of comfort foods. Sitting by the beach with a huge bowl of freshly roasted peanuts and a book is my concept of a perfect holiday. By the same note, anything and everything cooked with an overdose of nuts is my concept of ideal foodie heaven!
Roasted and skinned peanuts - 150 gms
Walnuts - 50 gms
Almonds - 50 gms
Small whole Figs - 15 nos
Jaggery - 100 gms
Cardamom - 5 Nos
Dry ginger powder - 2 pinches


Dry roast all nuts together. Cool and pulverize to granules in a mixer/food processor.Boil a cup of water (200 ml) and dissolve jaggery in it. Filter to remove scum. Place a thick bottomed skillet on the flame and pour in the jaggery. Keep simmer stirring till jaggery thickens to one string consistency (a slight syrupy texture). Add in the granulated nuts, whole figs, ginger powder and powdered cardamom. Keep stirring till the mixture reaches a jam like consistency. Take off flame.
When slightly cool place the mixture in a wax paper/aluminium foil/cling film and roll up into a tight cylinder. Place in the freezer for a couple of hours to set. Later, remove from wrapping and cut into slices.
The surprise element in this nutty treat are the bits of luscious, grainy figs that you stumble upon while munching
This yummy delight is softer, unlike the traditional chikki.

This is my entry to Mythreyee's Sweet Series - Chikki and Laddu event. The event is on at http://www.paajaka.com/2008/08/announcing-sweet-series-chikki-and.html

This also goes to EC's WYF: Color in Food event. My colour is deep , earthy brown from the Jaggery! The event is on at http://simpleindianfood.blogspot.com/2008/07/wyfcolour-in-food-event_30.html#comment-form

Also sending this to Lore's Original Recipe - Monthly Roundup event. The event is on at http://culinarty.sapiensworks.com/articles/original-recipes-monthy-round-up-event/

10 comments:

Lore said...

Love suprises and if they come as figs in a nutty sweet treat they would definitely brighten my morning :). Thanks for sending this delightful recipe my way!

EC said...

These are looking divine...thanks for participating

Indian Khana said...

This looks real nice..I love peanuts chikkis too but the other nuts adding is gud idea...gud entries :)

Usha said...

Very creative and healthy...good idea:)

lubnakarim06 said...

Wow looks tempting.

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

A sweet treat! Healthy, full of energy and delicious!

cheers,

Rosa

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

This looks and sounds interesting, a sort of chewy chikki. I like sweets with jaggery.
Thanks for dropping by my kitchen.

Vaishali said...

Lovely nutty treats, Dershana. Glad to have found your blog- I am adding you to my blogroll.

Purva Desai said...

Nutty surprise is truly nutty.....there are loads of nuts in this dish....I am loving it!!!!
Thank you for adding me on ur blog roll

Purva Desai said...

Nutty surprise is truly nutty.....there are loads of nuts in this dish....I am loving it!!!!
Thank you for adding me on ur blog roll

 
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