60 Min
GF
NF
Sesame Chikki
Since this is the year where I want to highlight traditions and customs, today I bring you one of my favorite childhood traditions. As I write this, today is Makar Sankranti, a mid-winter full-moon harvest festival popular all over India, Nepal and other surrounding countries. Being a national holiday, it is celebrated by a full day of kite flying and delicious snacky foods, sweets little laddus and chikki also known as brittle, which is like the candy of India. Since we would be off from school, my brothers and I would wake up early and start treating the kite strings with pastes made with flour and sugar to strengthen them. Our parents would get us 2 to 3 kites each, some small and simple, some large with brightly colored patterned papers and soon we would run up to our top balcony. All morning, we’d fly our kites high into the sky, anxiously looking for other rival kites to ‘cut’ with our kites, which we’d subsequently run out on the streets to retrieve. The sky would resonate with colorful kites all over the city, most flying high, some falling to the ground and the sounds of children squealing in delight or disappointment. There would always be savory snacks and sweets for us to nibble on throughout the day. This sesame brittle is a direct reminder of those days and while kite flying is not yet a national holiday here in the United States, this chikki will always transport me to those days.
Since this is the year where I want to highlight traditions and customs, today I bring you one of my favorite childhood traditions. As I write this, today is Makar Sankranti, a mid-winter full-moon harvest festival popular all over India, Nepal and other surrounding countries. Being a national holiday, it is celebrated by a full day of kite flying and delicious snacky foods, sweets little laddus and chikki also known as brittle, which is like the candy of India. Since we would be off from school, my brothers and I would wake up early and start treating the kite strings with pastes made with flour and sugar to strengthen them. Our parents would get us 2 to 3 kites each, some small and simple, some large with brightly colored patterned papers and soon we would run up to our top balcony. All morning, we’d fly our kites high into the sky, anxiously looking for other rival kites to ‘cut’ with our kites, which we’d subsequently run out on the streets to retrieve. The sky would resonate with colorful kites all over the city, most flying high, some falling to the ground and the sounds of children squealing in delight or disappointment. There would always be savory snacks and sweets for us to nibble on throughout the day. This sesame brittle is a direct reminder of those days and while kite flying is not yet a national holiday here in the United States, this chikki will always transport me to those days.
60 minutes
4
Notes & Variations
- Instead of sesame or pumpkin seeds, use other seeds like sunflower or poppy seeds or even a combination of seeds and nuts. The seeds or the nuts mut be pre-toasted before making the brittle. To toast, spread on a baking sheet and bake in a pre-heated 300F oven for 7 to 8 minutes. Cool before using.
- The spices like cardamom and black pepper are optional or can be substituted with cinnamon, nutmeg or a pinch of cloves.
- The brittle can be rolled out thin like we did or thick and cut into squares.
Notes & Variations
- Instead of sesame or pumpkin seeds, use other seeds like sunflower or poppy seeds or even a combination of seeds and nuts. The seeds or the nuts mut be pre-toasted before making the brittle. To toast, spread on a baking sheet and bake in a pre-heated 300F oven for 7 to 8 minutes. Cool before using.
- The spices like cardamom and black pepper are optional or can be substituted with cinnamon, nutmeg or a pinch of cloves.
- The brittle can be rolled out thin like we did or thick and cut into squares.
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