Dry fruit Chikki

Jaggery replaces sugar in this dry fruit chikki loaded with vitamin E, iron and zinc. Here’s my serving suggestion – cut the chikki into interesting shapes…your kids will love it.

Ingredients

* 2 ¼ cup sesame seeds (til)
* ¼ cup thinly sliced almonds (badam)
* ¼ cup thinly sliced pistachios
* 1/3 cup grated jaggery (gur)
* 1½ tsp ghee for cooking and greasing

Method

1.Heat a small kadhai, add the sesame seeds and dry roast on a medium flame for a few seconds. Remove and keep aside to cool.

2. In the same kadhai, add the almonds and pistachios and roast on a medium flame for a few seconds. Remove and keep aside to cool.

3. Heat the ghee in a deep pan, add the jaggery and cook on a slow flame till the jaggery melts and caramelizes, while stirring continuously (it should form a hard ball when you add a drop in cold water). Remove from the flame.

4.Add the roasted sesame seeds, almonds and pistachio nuts and mix thoroughly.

5.Pour the mixture immediately on a greased thali or a smooth stone surface.

6.Roll it into an even sheet using a greased rolling pin. When slightly cool, cut into equal pieces.