By Ujjainee Roy
August 24, 2024
Janmashtami, the celebration of Lord Krishna's birth, is marked by the preparation of various traditional offerings, with Panjiri being one of the most significant. Panjiri is a sacred and nutritious sweet that holds special importance in the festivities. It is believed to be Lord Krishna's favorite prasad (offering), especially because of its association with his childhood in Vrindavan. Here's an easy panjiri recipe.
– Whole wheat flour (atta) - 1 cup – Ghee (clarified butter) - ½ cup – Powdered sugar or boora - ½ cup – Fox nuts (makhana) - ¼ cup – Almonds - ¼ cup (sliced) – Cashews - ¼ cup (chopped) – Raisins - ¼ cup – Dried coconut (grated) - ¼ cup – Poppy seeds (khus khus) - 2 tablespoons – Cardamom powder - 1 teaspoon
Heat the ghee in a large, heavy-bottomed pan or kadhai over low to medium heat. Add the whole wheat flour (atta) to the pan and begin to roast it, stirring continuously. Roast the flour until it turns golden brown and gives off a nutty aroma.
In a separate small pan, dry roast the fox nuts (makhana) until they become crisp. Remove and crush them lightly. In the same pan, add a little ghee and roast the almonds, cashews, and poppy seeds (khus khus) until they are golden brown. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Once the flour is roasted, add the roasted dry fruits, crushed fox nuts, grated dried coconut, and raisins to the pan. Mix everything well. Continue to cook the mixture on low heat for another 5 minutes, ensuring all the ingredients are well combined.
Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool slightly. Once it’s warm, but not hot, add the powdered sugar or boora and cardamom powder. Mix everything thoroughly so that the sugar is evenly distributed throughout the Panjiri.