KAJU KATLI

Kaju Katli/ Cashew nut fudge is very easy to make, with few ingredients. It’s one of the most popular sweets and almost every one's Favorite.  Its perfect dessert/sweet which can be gifted to friends and family for any occasion. Enjoy this yummy rich dessert !

Kaju Katli

 
Ingredients :

Cashewnut - 1 cup
Sugar - 1/2 cup
Water - 1/4 cup
Ghee - for greasing

I did not use any flavoring as we like katlis as is. 
If you want you can use either use Kewra Essence (1 drop) or Cardamom (1 pinch).

Method :

1. Powder the cashew nut finely in a dry mixie/blender jar.
2. Mix sugar and water in a pan using a spatula.  Once the sugar slightly dissolves switch on the flame, always keep the flame in low to medium.
3. At first the sugar starts to dissolve and you can see slight bubbles, after that sugar syrup starts to thicken. 
4. Now we need to check the syrup for 1 string/thread consistency. One string/thread Consistency is when a thin string is formed between the tip of thumb and forefinger, When pulled apart gently it should not break.
5. Immediately put the flame to low and add the powdered cashew nuts.  Instead of spatula you can also use whisk here.  Mix well without any lumps.  

 6. Keep stirring in low flame using a spatula.  Now we need to cook Cashew nut powder with the sugar syrup. First you can see the gooey dough as shown in the picture. Keep mixing.
7. At one stage you can see the mixture starts to leave the sides of the pan and starts to form a ball,  at this stage take little amount of cashewnut mixture. Using your 2 fingers check to see if it forms a non sticky ball as shown in the picture.If it forms a ball immediately switch off the flame and pour the mixture in the plate greased with ghee.

 8. Using a fork mix it well couple of times. It will be super hot so we can not work with it immediately.
9. When you are able to handle the heat, start kneading the dough without giving so much pressure. You will get a smooth dough as shown in the picture. It should be nice and Pliable.

10. Keep the dough in between 2 parchment paper and roll it using a rolling pin for about 4mm thick..Choosing the thickness is absolutely your choice. Mine is thin the way we like.

11. Now using a knife cut diagonally. Let it cool completely.  Store in an airtight container.

Note :

1. Powder the Cashew nut when it is in the room temperature. Make sure you the Blender jar is completely dry.
2. Like any other sweet, string consistency is very important.  If the consistency is more than 1 string, then the katlis becomes brittle or you will not be able to form smooth dough.
2. Once the cashewnut and sugar mixture starts to leave the pan and forms a soft non sticky ball, stop cooking.  If you continue to cook longer it will make the dough very dry.
3. As soon as you are able to handle the heat, start kneading the dough to a smooth ball immediately.  If you wait longer, it will become dry soon and difficult to roll.
4. If everything is done correctly you will get smooth and Pliable dough, if you feel it is dry add little warm milk and knead again to get smooth dough. If milk is added the shelf life for katlis will be less if kept at room temperature, you need to keep it in the fridge after couple of days.

Hope I have given you all the tips that was in the top of my head.  Do let me know if you have any doubts.

DISCLAIMER :

PLEASE DO NOT COPY THE RECIPE OR PICTURE.  YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO USE THIS RECIPE WITH THE DUE CREDIT.

Read more...

ADHIRASAM / ATHIRASAM

Wishing you All Advance Happy Deepavali

To kick start the festival of lights I started with Adhirasam.  I have planned to do couple of sweets and savories for Diwali.  Not sure I can share the recipe for those before Diwali.  Anyways I will share the picture here after I make and later I will share the recipe.  Do check some of my other Sweet and savories which I have in blog my already.

Sweets :

Apple Jalebi
Adhirasam/Athirasam
Badam Halwa
Besan Ladoo
Boondhi Ladoo
Obattu/puran poli
Suruttai poli
Easy Paalkova
Rasmalai
Karjikai/Kajjikai
Karjikai/Kajjikai 1
Kaju Katli

Savories :

Butter Murukku
Ginger Pakoda
Puluppu Murukku
Lychee Sandesh in Rabri/Rabdi
Mung dhal Murukku Ver1
Mung dhal Murukku ver2
Onion Murukku

Vadai / Bonda 

Punnugulu/Bonda using Dosa batter
Mangalore bajji/Golibaje
Masal Vadai/Paruppu Vadai


Adhirasam/ Athirasam

Yields - 10 to 12 Adhirasam

Ingredients :

Rice - 1 cup
Jaggery - 3/4 cup
Water - 1/4 cup
Cardamom - 1/4  tsp
Dry ginger Powder - 1 pinch (optional)
Sesame Seeds - 1/2 tbsp
Oil for deep frying
Ghee/ oil for greasing 
Polythene sheet 

Note :  You can use Maavu Pacharisi or any raw rice. I used Sona masoori.  Also it’s good to use Paagu vellam (Jaggery) for making Adhirasam. As I don't have all these where I live. I used regular Jaggery.  

Method :

1. Clean and Wash the rice thoroughly. Let it soak for atleast 1 to 2 hours. But don't soak more than that. 
2. Drain the water completely and spread in the clean kitchen cloth towel until the rice is 3/4th dried. (Make sure the rice is not completely dry, it should still retain moisture/Damp enough)
3. Now powder the rice in the Mixer.  The texture of the powder should not be very fine, it should be like fine Sooji/ Rawa.  Make sure it’s not coarse too.  If you still have doubt, you can sieve it. 
4. Once it is sieved, immediately transfer it to a container.  Keep the flour covered as it has to retain moisture throughout the process which is very important. 

5. Now in a pan heat Jaggery with 1/4 cup of water, once it is dissolved completely.. filter it to remove all the impurities.
6. Heat the Jaggery again (Always keep in Medium to low flame), stirring occasionally. Now the syrup will thicken and you will be getting nice bubbles (this happens very faster as we added little amount of water) this is tricky part so keep a close watch.  Take a small plate or bowl filled with little water.  Keep checking the sugar consistency by pouring little syrup in water. At first the syrup will dissolve in the water (you can check couple of times frequently. At one stage the syrup will settle in the bottom and when you gather in your fingers you should be able to gather and make a soft ball.  At this stage switch of the flame.
7. Add Sesame seeds, cardamom and ginger powder to the powdered flour. Keep this ready.
8. Add the hot syrup to the flour and keep mixing with the whisk or any ladle. 
9. Very loose and sticky dough will be formed which is the right consistency.  Later it gets stiff when the dough cools down.  

10. Now transfer the dough in airtight container for resting. The dough has to rest atleast 24 hrs before we make Athirasam/Adhirasam.  
11. When making Adhirasam, equally divide the dough to small lemon sized balls. 
12. Heat Oil in the kadai, Oil should not be too less for frying. Once oil is hot, put the flame in low. 
13. Take a Polythene sheet or any Ziploc cover.  Grease it with ghee or oil. Flatten the ball using your greased fingers.
14. The discs has to be thick (Do not make it thin). Now carefully drop it in the oil.  The flame has to be low throughout the frying process. 

15. Like doing poori, slightly pour oil on the top of the Adhirasam slowly. It rises up, immediately flip to other side gently and let it cook for couple of seconds and take it out immediately. Using another ladle give it a press to take out extra oil. Don't press too much as it has to retain little oil to keep it soft and moist inside and little crispy outside. 
16. Keep it in a slanted plate like I have kept, don’t stack. So that extra oil drains out. Make all the Adhirasam.

17. Once all Adhirasam are made store in the air tight container lined with kitchen tissue.

Some of the things has to be Noted Before you attempt Adhirasam :

1. The texture of flour is very important.. Which should be like Very fine Sooji and moisture should be retained in the flour until it is added to Jaggery.  So keep it covered.
2. The Jaggery should have soft ball consistency.
3. The consistency of the dough should be very loose/ Sticky dough.
4. Always cook it in low flame. Don't cook too long after Flipping. It makes Adhirasam harder because even if you take the Adhirasam out of the oil it will be still cooking from Inside because of Jaggery content, Jaggery takes time to cool.
5. The amount of Jaggery or flour can't be altered. If you follow everything correctly the ratio for rice flour and Jaggery I have mentioned, it will work exactly.  But you can always make extra Jaggery syrup (that is instead of 3/4th cup make syrup you can make syrup with 1 cup of Jaggery but we may not be using all the syrup. when you add syrup to the flour keep mixing the dough with whisk or Laddle.  When the sticky dough is formed stop adding the syrup. 
6. The Dough gets stiff after it cools down. But not very hard.  Even after 2 days the dough has to be pliable.
If you think the dough is very hard you can add little milk and knead.
7. You can make dough and make Adhirasam after giving atleast 24 hrs of resting time.  You can also keep the dough in room temperature for 2 to 3 days.  If you are not going to use it immediately.. you can store it in freezer or keep it in fridge.  Use when needed, after it is thawed or gets to room temperature.

Read more...