Mixed Nuts Chikki made with nuts like cashews, almonds and jaggery. This is the Indian version of nut brittle and a must make during winters! It is also refined sugar free.
1cupchopped nuts140 grams, I used a mix of cashews, almonds and pecans
3/4cuppowdered jaggery100 grams
1tablespoonwater15 ml
1/2tablespoongheeor use coconut oil
3-4green cardamom podsseeds removed and crushed
Instructions
Chop the nuts and dry roast them for 4 to 5 minutes on medium heat. Remove on a plate.
To the same pan add jaggery, water, ghee. Set the heat to low.
Jaggery will melt and start to bubble. Once it starts bubbling let it boil for 4 to 5 minutes until it reaches hard ball stage at around 260 degrees F. Heat should be low all time.
If you don't have a thermometer, you can drop some syrup in a bowl of cold water to check the right consistency.It will solidify and you should be able to form a ball. It will harden as it cools and you should be able to snap it.
This is the right stage to add nuts. Stir in the roasted nuts into the pan along with crushed cardamom seeds. You may also add some fennel powder here if you like.Mix until the nuts are coated with the jaggery syrup.
Transfer mixture to a sheet of parchment paper. Place another sheet of parchment paper on top and using a rolling pin, roll between the two sheets to 1/4 inch thickness.You may make some indentation with a knife where you plan to cut the pieces since once it hardens it might become difficult to cut it into clean pieces.
Let it cool down and then cut into pieces. Store mixed nuts chikki in an air tight container and enjoy as a snack!
Notes
Be very careful about getting the right stage of the jaggery syrup else your chikki will be soft and you don't want that. You want it to have a nice snap.
You may also add fennel powder or other spices you like to add some flavor. I have only added cardamom here.