Dry fruit chikki is a tasty treat made from nuts and seeds for an energy bar-esque experience at home.
Preparing Chikki is exceptionally straightforward: combine jaggery and water until they reach hard-ball consistency before stirring in nuts, fruits, or other toppings of choice.
Add all ingredients and blend until well-mixed. Pour onto butter paper or steel plate greased with ghee, let cool, then cut into squares while still warm.
Ingredients
Dry fruit chikki is an alternative to traditional peanut chikki made with various nuts such as cashews, almonds, pistachios, and walnuts, along with jaggery sweetener and cardamom flavorings. Perfect as a winter treat and nutritious snack option, ingredients and recipe are easily accessible, while preparation should only take minutes; for best results, however, work quickly to follow the procedure to shape perfect chikkis!
To create this chikki, the first step should be dry roasting all of the ingredients on medium heat for 3-4 minutes, periodically stirring so as to prevent burning. When the nuts and seeds have been properly roasted, remove from heat. Next, jaggery syrup should be cooked to hardball consistency to ensure crunchy yet chewy chikki; check this by dropping small amounts into cold water; overcooking can result in complex, bitter-tasting chikki while undercooking can result in tough, sticky chikki that sticks to teeth!
Roasted nuts and seeds are then combined with jaggery in a mixer, along with fennel seed powder and ground cardamom. After mixing, this concoction should be spread on a parchment-lined flat surface before being rolled while still warm, before being cut into squares once cool and stored airtight in an airtight container – the chikki will keep well for one week when properly stored!
Chikki is an irresistibly delicious wintertime sweet that’s packed with healthy ingredients and iron-rich jaggery, making it the ideal wintersweet. A popular treat in India and enjoyed during festivals such as Lohri and Makar Sankranti, this alternative to candy is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth – either enjoyed alone or crushed up and added to ice cream for an irresistibly delicious treat!
Preparation
Chikki is an Indian dessert or brittle that traditionally uses jaggery and groundnuts as its core ingredients, though more recently, various nuts such as almonds, sesame seeds (til), chocolate chips, watermelon seeds, and mixed dry fruits may also be added for variety. When making Chikki, its syrup must reach a hardball consistency so as to produce something that stays crunchy without sticking to teeth!
Start by dry roasting chopped cashews, almonds, and pistachios on medium heat in a pan. This should take about 3-4 minutes. Next, add water and til powder into this same pan; heat over low flame until the til turns brownish.
Once your til has turned brownish, switch off the flame. Next, add ghee to the mixture and combine thoroughly before adding cardamom powder and fennel seed powder, which are optional additions for flavor and creamy texture if you are vegan.
Once your mixture is hot enough to handle, spread it onto a plate or thali that has been greased with oil or ghee. Use a rolling pin if necessary, and once cool enough, roll into a thin chikki layer; cutting into vertical lines while still warm will be easier.
Allow the chikki to cool for about 1 hour before breaking it into small squares and storing it in an air-tight container for up to two weeks. Chikki makes for an excellent midday snack or after-meal sweet treat packed with protein and iron that’s healthy enough for kids as well as adults alike! I always turn to homemade chikki as one way of satisfying my sweet cravings; try this easy and tasty homemade recipe today – you won’t regret it!
Baking
Dry Fruit Chikki is an irresistibly tasty Indian snack composed of cashews, almonds, and pistachios sweetened with jaggery and spiced with cardamom – making it the ideal wintertime or after-school snack for kids! Easy to make and store in airtight containers until ready for snacking, it can also add festive holiday treats, birthday party treats, or kids’ snack boxes while satisfying sweet cravings without added sugars!
Chikki is packed with antioxidants and nutrients, including vitamin E, which is known to fight fatigue and boost energy levels. Furthermore, this snack’s high level of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) has been shown to enhance heart health – it is recommended for heart patients as part of a heart-healthy diet. Furthermore, iron helps strengthen bones, while protein offers complete protein solutions.
For this chikki recipe, start by dry roasting sesame seeds (til) over a medium flame in a non-stick pan for 3 to 4 minutes on medium-low heat in a non-stick pan with continuous stirring so as to prevent them from scorching at the bottom of the pan. When the seeds turn a brown hue, take off the heat immediately and set aside.
Mix in the roasted peanuts until evenly mixed. Carefully pour this mixture onto a sheet of greased butter paper or plate, spreading it out with the help of a rolling pin until evenly spread. Cover this sheet of greased butter paper with another sheet and continue rolling it until your chikki becomes uniformly thick – cut while still warm!
Once the chikki has set, break it into smaller pieces and store it in an airtight jar or container at room temperature. Chikki is typically created during winter festivals like Lohri and Makarsankranti but can be enjoyed as a healthy snack throughout the year.
Chikki is an Indian snack traditionally prepared with peanuts or sesame seeds; however, modern versions often include other ingredients like dried fruits and chocolate as well. Making Chikki requires only minimal steps.
Serving
Dry fruit chikki is an irresistibly sweet confection composed of nuts and jaggery. An ideal source of protein and iron, as well as an effective sugar alternative, it helps combat fatigue while satisfying sweet cravings. Perfect as either an energy-dense snack or dessert option! Making dry fruit chikki requires only minimal steps – dropping some mixture into cold water will reveal whether its hardball texture has reached perfection; once that has happened, it should snap when broken off!
Traditional chikki is traditionally prepared using only peanuts and jaggery; however, variations include sesame seeds, chocolate chips, melon seeds, or an assortment of nuts – these additions make for more delicious and healthier treats! Some popular variations are Kaju Badam Chikki with Peanuts – an easy and fast alternative made using premium quality nuts – Peanut Chikki with Chocolate – perfect for an afternoon treat; Mixed Nut Chikki, which requires minimal time investment is another popular variation with premium quality nuts chikki also making for a tasty yet nutritious snack!
Chikki is a highly healthy snack that can be stored for long periods due to its abundance of essential nutrients. Children will love it too, and it makes an ideal treat on the go; easily carry it around in your school bag or work lunchbox and enjoy it when hunger strikes!
Chikki comes in many varieties; one such variety is Til Chikki, made with roasted sesame (til) and jaggery. Til is an excellent source of iron and an integral part of Indian cuisine; additionally, it provides various benefits in terms of fat intake. Although Til Chikki contains lots of calories, it should be avoided if you are trying to lose weight as its consumption may cause weight gain.
To create Til Chikki, combine jaggery and water in a nonstick pan until the mixture begins to boil. Check its consistency by dropping a drop into cold water; if it forms into a hard ball and snaps when snapped, the syrup is ready for the addition of nuts and seeds. Combine well, then transfer onto the greased surface where the mixture can be spread evenly using a rolling pin. Cover with a second sheet of oiled paper, then allow to cool before cutting into squares to serve immediately or store in an airtight container for later.
