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.
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.