Chikki is a traditional Indian brittle or sweet that is enjoyed by people of all ages, from kids to adults. Not only that, it is something that carries nostalgia with it and you have most likely enjoyed these brittles as a kid. Thanks to its ingredients, chikki becomes a favourite during the winter season as it provides instant energy and keeps you warm while packing a lot of flavour.
Chikkis are widely available in all Indian sweet shops or general stores in packaged form but you can make the same chikki at home with perfection with the help of these tips. So whichever recipe you decide to follow, make sure you consider and follow these tips for the best results.
Is Chikki Healthy?
Yes, chikki is healthy considering the ingredients that go into its preparation, but you have to practice moderation in order to get the benefits or else it will backfire. The blend of peanuts and jaggery is a great source of many vitamins and minerals and when consumed in moderation, it could be a delicious way to enhance immunity and overall health.
Are Chikki And Gajak The Same?
Gajak and chikki are from different regions. While it is believed that chikki was invented in Lonavala, gajak has a long history in Indore. Gajak is prepared from powdered jaggery or sugar, whereas chikki is made from liquid jaggery. Gajak also takes longer to prepare in comparison to chikki.
5 Tips To Make The Perfect Chikki
Avoid The Use Of Water
When you are making your jaggery syrup, make sure you don't add water to the mixture. There are two reasons for this: the first is that it can easily affect the quality of the syrup and its flavour will weaken. The second reason is that water can dilute the syrup to quite some extent and this would cause a runnier consistency, which isn't ideal for chikki.
Use Baking Soda
A great hack when it comes to making chikkis that many people aren't aware of is adding a little baking soda to the mix. The reason? Mixing baking soda in the jaggery syrup that you will use to make chikki will help you get chikkis that are both soft and crunchy. So, don't forget about baking soda when you make your next batch of chikkis.
Roast The Dry Fruits
You will need dry fruits or nuts of your preference, along with sesame seeds, to make chikkis. But instead of directly using them, make sure you roast them to perfection with ghee. This will enhance the flavour of the nuts and dry fruits while also making their texture better.
Prioritise Your Preference
When you are making chikki, it's great to follow a recipe to get clear directions about the ingredients and steps. But with chikki, you get the freedom to opt for the nuts and dry fruits that you want to add. So, make sure you use the dry fruits and nuts that you like to get the best chikki experience.
Allow The Chikkis To Cool
Once you are done making your chikkis, allow the brittle to cool down completely. This will give chikkis their signature crunch. When your chikkis have cooled down, simply cut them down into square pieces and store them in an airtight container to preserve their freshness and crunch.