Rose Chikki

Every year growing my mum would make sesame seed ladoos for Makar Sankranti/Uttarayan. For this year's Uttarayan I thought I'd make Rose Chikki - a floral addition to this tasty sweet.

Ingredients:

1 cup sesame seeds - 100g

1/4 cup red peanuts - 40g

1 cup jaggery - 190g

1 tsp ghee

1 tbsp rose extract (I used Nielsen-Massey rose water flavour)

Rose petals

Method

First step is to roast the sesame seeds and red peanuts on a medium to low heat. Roast them separately for a couple of minutes. The sesame seeds will change colour slighty, give off a nutty aroma and crackle a little. Once roasted place the sesame seeds into a separate dish to cool down. Roast the red peanuts in the same way, they will also change colour slightly and some peanuts may split slightly. Transfer this into a dish and leave to cool down.

Once the red peanuts have cooled down rub them between the palms of your hands to remove the skin. As the skin flakes off, remove the skinless peanuts and keep them aside.

Before we make the chikki mixture, prepare the dish you will use to set the chikki in. I am using a steel thali and to prepare it I have greased it with a little ghee so that the chikki does not stick. I also sprinkled some rose patels on the steel thali to add some colour to the Rose Chikki.

Now it's time to make the Rose Chikki. In a pan on medium to low heat melt the ghee. Once the ghee has melted add in the jaggery and allow this to fully melt down.

Once the jaggery has fully melted and begins to bubble turn the heat down to the lowest setting and add in the Rose Extract. I have used 1 tbsp or Rose Extract by Nielsen-Massey. If you're using a different brand you may need to adjust the quantity. Stir until the Rose Extract has fully incorporated into the melted jaggery.

Then add in the roasted sesame seeds and roasted red peanuts. Mix again until all the ingredients are fully incorporated together.

Once everything is mixed place the mixture onto the prepared steel thali or dish you have. Allow this to cool slightly but not fully that it sets. Be careful as the mixture will be very hot.

Spread the mixture with the help of the back of a spoon and flatten the mixture down, pressing into the corners of the thali/dish. Using a knife cut the chikki into pieces whilst still warm.

Once the Chikki has cooled down remove the pieces and the Rose Chikki is ready to eat! Store the Rose Chikki in an air tight container and enjoy when you crave a rosy sweet treat!

#chikki #uttarayan #makarsankranti #mithai