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/