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Mixed Nuts Chikki

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Recipe: Mixed Nuts Chikki

Mixed Nuts Chikki is a take on the traditional peanut chikki or brittle that is popular during the Makar Sankranti celebrations. I have used a mixture of nuts, sesame seeds and jaggery for that earthy warm flavour. This chikki or brittle comes together within 15 minutes.  

Sharing Mixed Nuts Chikki Recipe With The Group FoodieMonday/ Bloghop

The 229th theme for this Monday is Sankranti Specials. Since I am in Bangalore, I really wanted to make Undhiyu as that is a popular dish for Gujaratis during Makar Sankranti or Uttaran. Hot spicy Undhiyu, puffed up pooris and jalebi. Perfect Sankranti meal. Oh well! Putting the Undhiyu recipe on my blog will have to wait.

Happy Makar Sankranti to all my friends, followers and family.

What is Makar Sankranti?

Makar Sankranti, Uttarayan, Lohri, Maghi, Bihu, Thai Pongal, Suggi Habba, Makara Sankramana all fall more or less on the same day. These are all harvest festivals celebrated according to each one’s tradition and culture. Makar Sankranti, is dedicated to the Sun God Surya. It also marks the end of the winter solstice and beginning of longer daylight. While most communities will celebrate Makar Sankranti according to their tradition and culture, it is largely associated with kite flying and delicious food.    

Importance of Sesame Seeds and Jaggery during Makar Sankranti

Most of Makar Sankranti treats will have sesame seeds and jaggery in them. Usually I make  Til Gud ke Ladoo, Oats and Nuts Laddos, Tal Sankari, or Chocolate Sesame Fudge and each one will have sesame seeds and jaggery. Both til or sesame seeds and gud or jaggery is considered to be perfect winter foods as they help to keep the body warm and increases immunity. Jaggery is rich in iron and Vitamin C. Also its believed that one should eat til gud and speak well or say good things to others.  

Food and Makar Sankranti

Depending from which area or community your belong to, there are some dishes that are a ‘must’ for Makar Sankranti. In Gujarati, besides Tal Sankari, Undhiyu like Poonam has prepared is enjoyed by friends and families while flying kites. During Thai Pongal, Sakkarai Pongal (sweet pongal) prepared by Priya and Ven Pongal made by Aruna are a must. Some like Kalyani,  prepare Thalagam Kuzhambu (curry) with Rava Pongal. Northern States tend to make Sesame and Jaggery Papdi like Renu has. Swaty who hails from UP make Chilka Urad Dal Khichdi. They make the rice and lentil mix and donate it to the priests on Makar Sankranti along with jaggery. Maharashtrians tend to make Gulachi Poli or Tilgul Poli, a flatbread with jaggery and sesame seeds. My neighbor in Bangalore is from Bihar and she will be making Dahi Chura as it is a tradition in Bihar. Bengalis celebrate Poush Sankranti and Sujata makes the traditional Gokul Pithe. Karnataka state has the traditional Ellu Bella Mixture which Preethi enjoys making. North Karnataka also has an interesting millet flatbread called Sajji Rotti with sesame seeds which is prepared a day before Makar Sankranti. I’m sure Archana will be preparing it this year too.    

 

Memories

Saturday 11th Jan 

The day started with me having a light spring in my walk and my smile a mile long, as my daughter was coming from Dubai. We planned a party for her friends in the evening and that’s when I thought better make the brittle so that they can enjoy it too. However, as the day progressed, it became sad and disappointing. Had to cancel the party as my daughter’s flight time kept on delaying due to heavy rains in Dubai, which flooded the runways. Who can imagine so much rain in a desert? As the day turned into evening and then night I must have tracked her flight a million times hoping that it will take off soon. Exhausted, I feel asleep at 3 a.m. and no the flight didn’t take off when I woke up! My daughter had till 5 a.m. Dubai time spent over 20 hours at the airport. Exhausted, she went back home. She will now probably arrive after 2-3 days.

 

Sunday 12th Jan

A day when I didn’t want to do anything around the house. Got up and wanted to snuggle up in bed again. As the day progressed, a sense of responsibility prevailed and got ready to visit Sneha Care Home, a home for orphans. Along with our Purva Skywood Charity Community we went to give 45 children their presents. What Skywood does is,  they get a list of what the kids may want, and then Skywood residents purchase and wrap the gifts. Instead of choosing only one child to give a gift to, I decided to make goodie bags for all 45 with a juice packet, Oreo Packet, a lollipop and a Chikki.  Warm smiles, hugs and happy faces made my day.  

Makar Sankranti 2020

As I am in India this time, I thought I’d be able to prepare the traditional Gujarati Undhiyu but finding ratalu (purple yam), surti papdi, fresh green garlic proved to be difficult.  Thought of using loads of nuts to make a different type of chikki, something different this year. What I like about this recipe is that I can cook the jaggery to soft ball consistency for a softer chikki or brittle or to a hard ball consistency for a hard brittle. Just to keep with tradition added roasted sesame seeds and peanuts too to the mixture.  

 

Ingredients Required For Mixed Nuts Chikki

Mixed Nuts

Use any nuts of your choice. I have used walnuts, almonds, pistachio, peanuts and walnuts. I took ¼ cup each of the whole nuts. Chopped them up roughly and toasted them in the pan for 2-3 minutes. Can also toast them in the microwave oven for 2 minutes. Previously I have tired making the chikki with bigger pieces of the nuts but the chikki or brittle does not hold shape.

Sesame Seeds

Just to keep up with tradition, I added 2 tbsp of sesame seeds. Toast them lightly in the pan till the seeds begin to pop. Add them to the nuts mixture.

Jaggery

It is best to use jaggery that is not too hard. Cut, grate or crush the jaggery into smaller pieces so that it melts faster. I took about 120g of jaggery which is about a cup when it grated or crushed.

Cardamom Powder

To add flavour to the chikki.

Ghee

Makes the chikki soft and adds flavour. For vegan version use coconut oil or any odourless oil.

Water

We will add a bit of water to help the jaggery to melt faster.    

 

 

 

 

     
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MIXED NUTS CHIKKI

Mixed Nuts Chikki is a take on the traditional peanut chikki or brittle that is popular during the Makar Sankranti celebrations. I have used a mixture of nuts, sesame seeds and jaggery for that earthy warm flavour. This chikki or brittle comes together within 15 minutes. 
Course Dessert, Indian dessert, Indian Sweet
Cuisine Indian
Keyword chikki recipe, mixed nuts brittle, mixed nuts chikki
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 6
Author mayurisjikoni

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup whole cashew nuts
  • ¼ cup whole almonds
  • ¼ cup peanuts
  • ¼ cup whole pistachios
  • ¼ cup whole walnuts
  • 2 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 120 g jaggery grated
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp ghee
  • ¼ tsp cardamom powder

Instructions

  • Lightly grease a rolling pin  and the bottom of a steel bowl with some ghee.
  • Keep a silicon mat ready or use parchment paper. If you are using parchment paper, grease it lightly with some ghee.
  • Grate, chop or crush the jaggery to smaller pieces.
  • Chop the nuts roughly into small pieces.
  • Toast the nuts in a pan over medium to low heat for 2-3 minutes.
  • Transfer them a plate.
  • In the same pan toast the sesame seeds, till they begin to pop. Remember to keep stirring the seeds so that they do not burn.
  • Transfer them to the plate which has the nuts.
  • Add water and jaggery to the pan. Increase the heat to medium.
  • Mix the jaggery and break up any lumps.
  • The mixture will begin to bubble. Keep mixing it.
  • Then it will become really frothy. Cook till it turns dark brown in colour.
  • Add a few drops of the melted jaggery to a bowl of cold water. Wait for 30 seconds.
  • Roll the jaggery to see if it has reached the soft ball consistency.
  • It should roll up into a ball easily and not break.
  • If not continue to cook the jaggery.
  • Add a few drops again in the water to see if the consistency is correct.
  • Add the ghee and cardamom powder and mix well.
  • Add the nuts and sesame seed mixture to the melted jaggery.
  • Mix well. Take the pan off the heat.
  • Quickly transfer the mixture to the silicon mat or the parchment paper.
  • Using the greased bowl, pat the mixture into a thin layer.
  • Use the rolling pin to make the chikki for brittle thinner.
  • Allow the chikki to cool down completely.
  • When it is cold, break the chikki into pieces.
  • If you want even pieces, then cut the warm chikki into squares using a sharp knife.
  • Allow it to cool completely.
  • Enjoy mixed nuts chikki for Makar Sankranti.

Notes

  • To set and cut it like traditional chikki chop the nuts into smaller pieces. 
  • Be careful not to over cook the jaggery otherwise the brittle will be very hard.
  • Use any nuts of your choice.
  • As the ratio of nuts to jaggery is less, it may be difficult to roll the chikki very thin.
  • I leave the jaggery at a soft ball consistency so that the chikki doesn't become too hard. Makes it ideal for the elders and small kids to enjoy without destroying their teeth.

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