Cashewnut katli
Thin diamonds of cashew fudge set with saffron milk syrup
Kaju katli is one of the best-loved Indian sweets: finely ground cashews bound with a sugar and milk syrup, rolled thin, scattered with nuts and cut into diamonds. It's smooth, dense and delicately sweet with saffron and cardamom. Makes about 40 diamonds; perfect for Diwali boxes and gifts.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 20
Ingredients
For the syrup
For the katli
To decorate
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Boil 5 ½ oz sugar and ½ cup milk in a heavy pan over a medium heat, stirring now and then, to a two-thread syrup: a cooled drop pressed between thumb and finger forms two strings (see the sugar syrup recipe). Let it cool.
12 minStep 2: Add 14 oz cashew nuts, finely ground, 1 tsp ground cardamom and ½ tsp saffron to the syrup and mix well into a smooth dough.
Step 3: Put the mixture between two sheets of cellophane or baking paper and roll it out 6 mm (¼ inch) thick.
Step 4: Peel off the top sheet and sprinkle with 2 tbsp almond and pistachio flakes. Cover again and roll lightly so the flakes stick.
Step 5: Leave overnight, then cut into diamond shapes.
480 minStep 6: Variation: for almond katli, use ground almonds instead of cashews. For cashew barfi, use coarsely ground cashews, stir in 2 tbsp ghee and pour the mixture into a greased tray instead of rolling it; cool and cut into diamonds.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 190 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 17 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does cashewnut katli take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 20 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of milk?
- Oat, soy or almond milk, same amount (use unsweetened for savoury dishes).
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