Fig and Amaranth Cookies
EVENT: A- Z RECIPE CHALLENGE
THEME : A DISH BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER F
RECIPE: FIG AND AMARANTH COOKIES
Fig and Amaranth Cookies are gluten free, delicious, melt in the mouth kind of cookies that can be enjoyed on Fasting Days. Amaranth flour, a bit of butter and sugar with chopped dried figs, these cookies are so easy to make. No baking agent is used as I am not sure if baking agents are allowed during Ekadashi, Shivratri and Navratri Fasting Days.
What is the A- Z Challenge?
Well, we’re a Facebook group and every alternate month the participants make a dish with the relevant letter. The group was started in May 2018 by Jolly Makkar and Vidya Narayan. Jolly blogs at Jolly Homemade Recipes. You can find some traditional South Indian recipes on Vidya’s blog Masala Chilli.
This Month’s Theme
For the month of March we have to post a recipe using an ingredient that begins with F.
Choosing an ingredient with letter F is not difficult at all as we have fennel, fenugreek, feta, fruits, farro, foxtail millet, finger millet, ummm does Ferraro Rocher count??? Usually, I choose the ingredient and prepare the dish. This time round however, the ingredient chose me 🙂
I was clearing out my refrigerator and pantry as I’m going to be away from home for the whole year. Made me feel sad as I had some ingredients that I had bought from India, Montreal, London and Dubai which are not easily available in Mombasa. However had to give them away to friends and family.
Take it from me, being a food blogger giving away some special ingredients is heart wrecking, my orange blossom water, real vanilla extract, vanilla pods, palm sugar, homemade spice blends, etc. Luckily my friendly neighbour volunteered to keep my sourdough starter safe in her freezer..phew!
Hubby reckons that it gives me a chance to start all over again. I guess he is right. I’m not too worried as now we have a big supermarket just opposite to our apartment complex.
I had a packet of dried figs in the fridge and that gave me an idea to prepare something using figs. I usually carry home made cookies during my travels to give them to family. So this time decided that the figs will go into making cookies.
Fig And Amaranth Cookies
Coming to the recipe for the cookies, I used amaranth (rajgira) flour. This means that one can enjoy these cookies when fasting for Navratri, Shivratri or Ekadashi. There are quite a few cookie recipes that one can have during fasting days but I’m a bit apprehensive as I’m not sure if one can eat baking agents during fasting.
However, this recipe is different as there is no baking agent in it and I’ve used sendha namak (rock salt).If you’re making them to enjoy as a gluten free option then you may add a pinch of baking soda. I used home made powdered sugar as ready made ones may contain cornflour.
Recipes Using Ingredients Beginning With F On My Blog:
Ingredients Required For Fig And Amaranth Cookies
- Dried Figs – need about 10 to 12. Soak them in hot water for about 30-45 minutes. Pat them dry on a kitchen towel and chop them roughly.
- Amaranth Flour – rajgira flour. Available in most Indian Stores or online.
- Powdered Sugar – as these cookies are for fasting days, I have powdered the sugar in my food processor. However, if you want to bake them as a gluten free option, you can use confectioners sugar or icing sugar. Icing sugar is not good for fasting days as it contains corn starch.
- Nuts – I have used a mixture of pistachio and almonds. Chop them up roughly. Use any nuts of your choice or omit altogether.
- Cardamom Powder – elachi.
- Butter or Ghee – if you use butter then use unsalted if you are making these cookies for fasting day. For vegan cookies omit using butter or ghee. Instead, use coconut oil.
- Salt – for fasting days you need to use rock salt/sendha namak.
- Milk – Normal dairy milk. Can use any other plant milk like almond or coconut for vegan option.
- Baking Soda – Soda Bicarbonate. Optional as I am not sure if one can consume it during fasting days. However, if you are not making these cookies for fasting days then add ¼ tsp as it will make the cookies softer
FIG AND AMARANTH COOKIES
Ingredients
- 10-12 fig dried
- 2 cups amaranth flour
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp pistachios/almonds or both roughly chopped
- ½ tsp cardamom powder
- 9 tbsp unsalted butter soft
- ¼ tsp sendha namak/rock salt salt
- ⅓ cup milk
- ¼ tsp baking soda optional
Instructions
- Soak the figs in about ½ cup of hot water for 30-45 minutes.
- Drain out the water. Pat dry the figs on a kitchen towel.
- Chop the figs into small pieces.
- Preheat the oven to 160°C.
- Line the baking tray with parchment paper or lightly grease it with some butter.
- Sift amaranth flour, salt and cardamom powder together. (Add baking soda too if you're using any). I have not used any.
- Add the chopped nuts and figs to the flour. Mix well.
- Cream butter and sugar till its soft and fluffy.
- Add milk and mix well.
- Add the flour mixture and mix well.
- Take about a tablespoon full of the dough.
- Roll it into a ball and flatten it slightly. Place it on the prepared tray.
- Repeat with the remaining dough. Make sure there is about an inch space between the cookies.
- Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes. The cookies will be crunchy on the outside and a bit soft inside. If you want extra crunchy cookies bake it for 20 minutes.
- Place the cookies on a wire rack to cool.
- Store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Add nuts of your choice.
- Bake them a low temperature.
- Add spices of your choice.
- For a vegan version use coconut oil and replace the milk with fresh orange juice.
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
70 Comments
The Girl Next Door
March 11, 2019 at 7:59 am
The cookies look delicious!
We hardly use figs in our kitchen, and I have never tried making anything with amaranth before. This is a rather new and interesting combination of ingredients to me. I’d love to try this out some time.
mayurisjikoni
March 11, 2019 at 7:10 pm
Thanks Priya, I use amaranth often especially during fasting days.
sjd68
March 12, 2019 at 10:34 pm
Interesting combination of ingredients! Being Italian, figs always seemed to be around the house in one form or another, usually from my uncles fig tree when in season. I’ll have to give these a try! Thanks for sharing.
mayurisjikoni
March 13, 2019 at 12:53 pm
Thank you so much.
Renu Agrawal Dongre
March 13, 2019 at 12:19 am
This is a wonderful recipe with figs and amarnath flour. I would say a treat during fasting. The cookies look just wow and so healthy with the goodness of figs.
mayurisjikoni
March 13, 2019 at 12:50 pm
Thank you so much Renu.
Shobha Keshwani
March 13, 2019 at 2:28 am
These cookies look so nice.. and perfectly baked. I will make them too. I am just loving the colour.
mayurisjikoni
March 13, 2019 at 12:49 pm
Thanks Shobha, please let me know how they turn out. I baked them a little longer for crunchiness.
Trish
March 13, 2019 at 6:41 am
What a great challenge – bet it makes people try an ingredient they might not have known about otherwise. And these cookies look so tasty.
mayurisjikoni
March 13, 2019 at 12:48 pm
Thanks Trish, and yes some members do come up with awesome recipes.
poonampagar
March 20, 2019 at 7:32 am
I use rajgeera during fasts, never tried a baked with it though. These cookies sound delicious and nutritious di ! Bookmarking the recipe to try out soon.
lforsythe7040
March 13, 2019 at 7:03 am
I’m not usually a big fan of figs, but these cookies look really good! I might have to give this recipe a try.
mayurisjikoni
March 13, 2019 at 12:47 pm
Thanks, hope you like them when you try them out.
Batter Up With Sujata
March 15, 2019 at 1:45 pm
These cookies looks so perfect and delish. Never used amaranth flour in my bakes. Next time I will make something with this flour. We store a lot of ingredients in refrigerator. Its difficult to clean entirely. You have some precious ingredients. Loved reading.
mayurisjikoni
March 15, 2019 at 10:08 pm
Thanks Sujata and let me know how your experience with amaranth in baking turns out.
Batter Up With Sujata
March 16, 2019 at 6:25 am
Sure
Nominal Nomad
March 13, 2019 at 1:08 pm
Really nice challenge!! Ahaha Ferrero Rocher would be my ingredient too! You have so many precious ingredients I never hear about! Cheers to you neighbour
mayurisjikoni
March 13, 2019 at 1:11 pm
Thank you so much.
Despite Pain
March 13, 2019 at 1:24 pm
Your cookies look lovely, and I love that they are made with amaranth flour. I have to eat gluten free, so it’s nice to see recipes which I can enjoy. Thank you for sharing.
mayurisjikoni
March 13, 2019 at 7:25 pm
Most welcome, hope you try out these cookies.
travelwisesr
March 13, 2019 at 6:16 pm
Awesome in looks & I guess they would be super awesome in taste.As it is I just love cookies.Would love to taste these.
Luna S
March 13, 2019 at 9:58 pm
Figs remind me of my grandmother, she used to have a few fig trees in her yard and would make fig jelly every year. I want to try these out and make them for the family so we can remember the summers helping her as we eat these!
mayurisjikoni
March 14, 2019 at 9:01 am
Fig jelly, now what I would give to have some of that. Try the cookies, a bit different from the normal as amaranth has an earthy taste.
karilife
March 14, 2019 at 1:39 am
That looks and sounds so incredible! I’ll have to give this recipe a shot! Thanks for sharing!
mayurisjikoni
March 14, 2019 at 8:59 am
Most welcome. Please try the recipe and let me know if you enjoyed the cookies.
tcleland88
March 14, 2019 at 2:08 am
The only fig cookies I’ve ever tasted have been Fig Newtons. These do look delicious and are probably much healthier.
mayurisjikoni
March 14, 2019 at 8:58 am
Healthier yes as they are gluten free. I love Fig Newtons.
honeybunnytwee
March 14, 2019 at 5:47 pm
I’ve never baked with figs before this is definitely a recipe for me to try with my little sister, an aspiring young baker
mayurisjikoni
March 14, 2019 at 5:58 pm
Thank you. I’m sure you’ll have great fun with your aspiring young baker.
ashleeunscripted
March 14, 2019 at 8:22 pm
These cookies look delicious. This A-Z Challenge sounds like such fun and I’m interested in seeing what you concoct for the next recipe!
mayurisjikoni
March 15, 2019 at 10:00 pm
Thank you so much Ashlee.
Livelearnbetter (@livelearnbetter)
March 15, 2019 at 12:36 am
These cookies looks so good and I hope it tastes delicious too? I will have Mrs. try out the recipe since she’s the adventurous family baker
mayurisjikoni
March 15, 2019 at 10:02 pm
Thank you so much. They definitely do not taste like the regular kind of cookies. However amaranth does impart an early flavor which I love.
Nina
March 15, 2019 at 1:05 am
This looks so yummy but reminds me of what happened the other week when I baked cookies. The following day, I asked my husband where are the cookies and he said he put them away. It turned out that he put them in his belly! I’m afraid he’ll eat everything again once I bake this!
mayurisjikoni
March 15, 2019 at 10:05 pm
Hehee.. I have to hide freshly baked cookies from my daughter as she can finish most of them in no time.
Swagata
March 15, 2019 at 8:53 am
Your cookies look great and I am sure they must be really delicious. The added bonus is a combination of healthy ingredients which make them even more interesting and desirable.
mayurisjikoni
March 15, 2019 at 10:06 pm
Thank you so much Swagata.
aword84
March 15, 2019 at 12:41 pm
Oh, dried figs.. I could survive on those.. love them! I’m not sure I’ll be able to find amaranth flour so easily though, I need to look! Do you know of any possible replacement? Although the combination of flavors would definitely change then.. thank you for the recipe!
mayurisjikoni
March 17, 2019 at 3:52 pm
Spending on where you live, its usually available online through Amazon or Bob Mill. However, you can replace the amaranth flour with wheat flour.
Erica (The Prepping Wife)
March 15, 2019 at 2:49 pm
These look interesting and delicious! Not something I’ve heard of before, and that intrigued me. I’ll hsve to try this recipe out.
mayurisjikoni
March 15, 2019 at 10:09 pm
Thanks Erica, in India amaranth flour is widely used especially when one has to fast without consuming normal grains, beans etc.
Debra Roberts (Run Wyld)
March 15, 2019 at 4:44 pm
What a beautiful site you have! These look like alot of work, but the wow-factor would be worth it as these are definitely something different!
mayurisjikoni
March 15, 2019 at 10:11 pm
Thank you so much Debra. Baking the cookies is not that time consuming as the dough is rolled into balls… faster than rolling out with a rolling pin and cutting them into shapes.
FoodTrails
March 17, 2019 at 6:39 pm
These gluten-free and healthy cookies are a treat especially during fasting days or for those who are on gluten-free diets. Otherwise also these can be relished at tea time and packed along while travelling for energy and hunger pangs. So easy and quick to make recipe. Will try for my kids..
mayurisjikoni
March 19, 2019 at 4:19 am
Thanks Swaty, please do try them as its a good way to get kids to enjoy the health benefits of amaranth and figs.
poonampagar
March 20, 2019 at 7:32 am
I use rajgeera during fasts, never tried a baked with it though. These cookies sound delicious and nutritious di ! Bookmarking the recipe to try out soon
mayurisjikoni
March 20, 2019 at 12:44 pm
Thanks Poonam and please do try them out and let me know how they turn out.
Vidya Narayan
March 20, 2019 at 10:17 am
While it is sad to leave home and part away with such lovely goodies, I appreciate your husband’s perspective of starting something new. Loved the recipe, use of Amaranth flour and a delicious fasting recipe too using figs. I am not a big fan of store bought biscuits and cookies but home baked ones I dig heavily into as they are made with no preservatives and can be experimented with largely.
mayurisjikoni
March 20, 2019 at 12:43 pm
That’s true Vidya, home made cookies one can experiment with largely. I too prefer home made cookies but must admit some of the cookies or biscuits sold by Marks and Spencer’s in UK are my favorite.
Ashima
March 24, 2019 at 5:27 am
I can’t wait to try this Mayuri! I keep looking for millet recipes and this is perfect for making a big batch and snack on/ gift to friends and family 🙂 I am currently visiting my parents in Chandigarh but as soon as I’m back home and have an oven.
[Quick thing.. you can edit this part out- Step 14, you missed writing ‘soft’ on the inside]
mayurisjikoni
March 24, 2019 at 4:28 pm
Thanks Ashima, for pointing out the error. And please do try them. A good way to get more millet into one’s diet.
Aruna
March 24, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Ferrero Rocher would have counted in my book. 😀 😀 😀 I feel for you Mayuri as far as giving away ingredients goes but change is the way of life. I am sure you will gather another treasure trove soon.
I would have not thought of baking with Rajgira flour. You have made a satvik cookie, if there is any such thing. 🙂
mayurisjikoni
March 24, 2019 at 4:43 pm
Thanks Aruna, I guess yes you can call them satvik, no onion no garlic , no eggs etc.
geetha priyanka
March 24, 2019 at 6:29 pm
These homemade cookies are a healthy treat to munch on any time guilt free. amaranth flour and fig combo sounds interesting. I will try these cookies sometime soon. Thanks for sharing this healthy and tasty recipe Mayuri..
mayurisjikoni
March 25, 2019 at 11:40 am
Thanks Geetha and you’re welcome. Please let me know how they turn out for you when you try the recipe.
Niranjana Sankaranarayanan
March 25, 2019 at 7:10 pm
Lovely recipe… Including figs in amaranth cookies is new to me.. Will try it out
mayurisjikoni
April 21, 2019 at 2:18 am
Thanks Niranjana.
Paarul
March 26, 2019 at 5:00 am
Wow what a lovely combination of Ingredients Mayuri ! The cookies look great. I can understand parting away with some of the best stuff rom our pantry is like disheartening at times, but I am sure you will explore and have some amazing ingredients very soon !!
mayurisjikoni
April 21, 2019 at 2:16 am
Thank you so much Paarul.
Niranjana Sankaranarayanan
March 26, 2019 at 6:08 am
This is gonna be a healthy side dish. Though my amma makes these sprouts and we have consumed it in a different form, this is something new to me.
mayurisjikoni
April 21, 2019 at 2:15 am
Thanks Niranjana.
JollyHomemadeRecipes
March 26, 2019 at 3:42 pm
Interesting combination of ingredients! Looks soooo delicious! I would love these with a hot cup of coffee. Excellent and healthy share !!
mayurisjikoni
April 1, 2019 at 9:48 pm
Thanks Jolly.
Sasmita
March 27, 2019 at 1:33 pm
I just love the use of amaranth here Such a lovely way to use this flour in the cookies !! so healthy with the addition of fig here too 🙂 I will surely try this………
mayurisjikoni
March 28, 2019 at 9:02 pm
Thanks Sasmita, a great way for kids to enjoy both amaranth and figs.
Shreelekha Patel
March 30, 2019 at 6:38 pm
I am about ready to make these cookies. All prepped, but then I can’t see the amount of sugar in ingredients list.
Do I need new glasses?
mayurisjikoni
April 1, 2019 at 8:18 pm
So sorry Shreelekha, I forgot to type it. And cannot believe so many who commented didn’t miss it. The amount of sugar is 3/4 (three quarter) cup, powdered. If using for fasting please grind the sugar at home as ready made powdered sugar contains cornflour.
Neeta Goyal
September 30, 2020 at 9:31 am
Tried the cookies. Turned out awesome. Thanks for the lovely recipe.
mayurisjikoni
September 30, 2020 at 2:30 pm
Thank you so much Neeta for trying the recipe.
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[…] who blog at Mayuris Jikoni. Mayuri is a very talented blogger. I always love her baked recipes like Fig amaranth cookies, Carrot oatmeal cookies and Thandai muffins etc. And also visit her space for many authentic […]