Winter season is incomplete without mentioning one of its quintessential sweets, gajak. India is popular for its elaborate sweets and desserts but at the time, Indian cuisine also boasts a great repertoire of sweet snacks that are not only delicious but are also healthy such as gajak. Gajak is sometimes referred to as chikki but they are two different sweets or snacks with different preparations, although, they are similar to some extent.
Gajak is a popular Indian winter sweet snack or delicacy that is believed to have originated in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. It is essentially a mix of sesame seeds, peanuts, and jaggery powder. Winter season is the ideal time of the year to enjoy this sweet since it warms your body and keeps you ready for the chilly days and nights. Not only that, gajak has many different varieties as well which we will discuss below.
Gud-Til Gajak
One of the most popular varieties of the sweet is gud-til gajak. It is enjoyed and consumed heavily during the winter months. In this gajak, sesame seeds and groundnuts take centre stage to provide the crunch. On top of that, the malwa prepared from jaggery powder and ghee is also used which provides the gajak with its signature sweet flavour.
Khas-Khas Barfi Gajak
This is a unique combination of khas khas (poppy seeds), til, and guds. It has a very different flavour profile when compared to other gajak. It has a nutty flavour along with a soft melt-in-mouth texture that you will definitely adore and is a must during winter.
Til Mawa Gajak
Another popular variation of the gajak that is usually enjoyed and eaten during the Lohri and Makar Sankranti celebrations. It is prepared using til, sugar, cardamom powder, ghee, milk, and mawa and thanks to the mawa used, it gets a rich flavour and elegance.
It is a great sweet that resembles biscuits and has a smooth and thin overall texture.
Til-Revadi Gajak
Til-revadi gajak are smaller treats compared to their counterparts but it packs a sweeter flavour than others. These are small bite-sized treats that you can enjoy at any time of the day or even when you are on the go. This variety is prepared by using jaggery or gur and white til. It is easily the crunchiest gajak you will ever get your hands on.
Dry Fruit Gajak
The combination of nuts and jaggery is a true bliss and this gajak is the perfect example of that. The dry fruit gajak is one of the most traditional forms of gajak and if you see any gajak in a sweet shop, chances are that is a dry fruit gajak. It is made by using jaggery, seeds, and nuts. You can use various types of nuts such as almonds, pistachios, cashews, pecans, and more to make these treats. Apart from that sesame seeds, roasted chana dal, dried coconut, and puffed rice are also great additions.
Kaju-Pista Shakkar Gajak
Another popular variety of gajak is one that is packed with cashews and pistachios. They are loved for their soft and rich texture and they look like flat cookies. Apart from the nuts like cashews and pistachios, this gajak only consists of sesame seeds and cardamom. It is a must-have treat if you love pistachios and cashews, as both nuts complement each other perfectly in this sweet.