Tilkut: Celebratory Bihari Dessert
By Niveditha Kalyanaraman
October 13th, 2023
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The Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand are popular for the tilkut sweet, where it is also known as tilkatri. Til or sesame seeds are pounded with sugar or jaggery into a disc-like shape to make tilkut. The tilkuts may be circular, oval, cylindrical, or even cuboid in shape. It is a traditional dessert primarily made during Makar Sankranti. Here's the recipe for Tilkut.
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Ingredients
3 cups of sesame seeds 2 cups of jaggery 2 tbsp clarified butter (ghee) 1/2 cup water
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Step 1
Heat oil and add the sesame seeds. Stir constantly till they turn a little brown. Transfer them to a bowl. Once cooled completely, grind the seeds to form a coarse powder.
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Step 2
Boil water and add jaggery. When the jaggery is completely dissolved, strain through a mesh and discard residual impurities. Return the syrup back to the pan and continue stirring on low heat till a thick paste is formed.
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Step 3
Mix the syrup with ground sesame seeds. Transfer the seed-jaggery mixture to a plate and use your hands, preferably with a dab of ghee, and make them into the desired shape. Your Tilkut is ready.
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