Chikki is an Indian sweet snack made with peanuts, jaggery, and ghee. It is also popular in Brazil as pe-de-moleque. Variations include using different nuts or adding fruit or spices. Jaggery is the key ingredient and can be found in Asian and Indian grocery stores.
Chikki is an Indian sweet snack originating from the Maharashtra area. It’s a combination of peanuts, butter or ghee, and a type of sugar called jaggery. The snack is cut into small squares that can be quickly eaten. The same dish made in almost the same way is also popular in Brazil, where it is called pe-de-moleque. There are variations on the original recipe, including adding fruit or substituting another type of nut.
The binding ingredient in chikki is jaggery. This is a type of sugar that is extracted from sugar cane and palm trees. Sugar is distinct because it contains molasses and is largely unrefined. It resembles brown sugar and is equal in density and viscosity. Some Asian and Indian grocery stores sell a special type of jaggery designed specifically to be used to make chikki.
The process of making chikki is quite simple. It involves creating syrup from the jar by mixing it with water and heating it, then adding ghee or ghee. The nuts are peeled, if necessary, and added to the syrup to coat. The entire mixture is poured onto a surface, where it is spread into foil and cut into squares or diamond shapes. Once dried, the chikki is ready to eat.
In Brazil, the method is similar, though not identical. The peanuts used in pe-de-moleque are roasted before being added to the syrup. While jaggery syrup can be used to coat pe-de-moleque nuts, it is also common to use molasses or brown sugar in the syrup.
There are variations of chikki. Instead of rolling the dice into foil, one variation calls for them to be dropped as cookies or small spheres onto a surface and allowed to dry into organic, irregular shapes. The type of nut used can also be changed completely, or traditional peanuts can be blended from another variety. Some popular options are cashews, walnuts and almonds. Other variations call for dried fruits, such as raisins and apricots, to be cut into small pieces and added to the peanuts.
More exotic variations include adding some spices or other flavorings. Some versions of Chikki have saffron added. Others include cardamom or coriander. Instead of nuts, one recipe calls for the use of popcorn. Another variation of chikki involves using a mix of black and white sesame seeds instead of peanuts.
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