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Sheer pira
شیرپیره (sheer pira): Afghan engagement fudge of milk powder, cardamom and rosewater with pistachios (plus 1 hour setting)
When an Afghan family agrees to a marriage proposal, the shirini-khori, literally the eating of sweets, follows, and trays of sheer pira are cut and handed round to mark that the deal is sealed; it also appears at Eid and Nowruz all over the country. It is a soft, dense milk fudge made in minutes from milk powder and syrup, perfumed with cardamom and rosewater and pressed with green pistachios and walnuts, and it melts slowly on the tongue like a creamy, not too sweet barfi. A syrup boiled too long is what turns it dry, crumbly and grainy, so take it off the heat as soon as it forms a single thread. Chef's tip: sift the milk powder and stir it in all at once, fast, while the syrup is still hot, or it sets in lumps before it is smooth.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 9 oz caster sugar
- ¾ cup water
- 10 ½ oz full-fat milk powdersifted
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tbsp rosewater
- 1 ⅜ oz shelled pistachiosfinely chopped
- 1 ⅜ oz walnutsfinely chopped
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Line an 18 cm square tin with baking paper and scatter half of ⅔ oz shelled pistachios and ⅔ oz walnuts over the base.
Step 2: Put 9 oz caster sugar and ¾ cup water in a pan over a medium heat, stir until dissolved, then boil without stirring for 6–8 minutes until it reaches about 225°F, or until a drop pinched between finger and thumb (carefully, after cooling) pulls into one thread.
8 minStep 3: Take the pan off the heat, leave for 1 minute, then stir in 1 tsp ground cardamom and 1 tbsp rosewater.
1 minStep 4: Add 10 ½ oz full-fat milk powder all at once and beat hard with a wooden spoon for 1–2 minutes until smooth and thick, like a soft dough pulling away from the pan.
2 minStep 5: Scrape into the tin, press it level with a wet spatula and sprinkle with the rest of ⅔ oz shelled pistachios and ⅔ oz walnuts, pressing them in.
Step 6: Leave to set for about 1 hour until firm, then cut into 24 small squares or diamonds. Keep in a tin in the fridge for up to a week.
60 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 28 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does sheer pira take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 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 caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of walnuts?
- Pecans or chocolate chips, same amount.
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