Peda

Peda

Ingredients:

1/2 kg. Soft white khoya
2 1/2 cups (approx.300gms) sugar powdered
1/2 tsp. cardamom powder
1 tsp. cardamom seeds semi crushed
1 tbsp. slivered or crushed pistachios

Method:

1. Grate khoya with a steel (not iron) grater.Add powdered sugar and mix well.
2. Put mixture in a large heavy or nonstick pan. Heat first on high for few minutes.The on slow till done.
3. Make sure to stir continuously, while on heat. When mixture thick and gooey, add cardamom.
4. Mix well, and take off fire. Allow to cool, gently turning occasionall
5. Use cookie moulds, or shape pedas with palms into patty rounds.
6. Mix pistachios and cardamom seeds and press a bit on top of each.
7. If using moulds, first sprinkle some at bottom. Take some mixture and press into mould. When set well, invert and carefully, unmould.

Tip:Above is the basic recipe. Any colour ( yellow, orange, green, cochineal), essence (pineapple, orange, pista, chocolate), topping (almonds, walnuts, cashews), can be added. To above recipe add any of following for varied flavours: cashew powder 1/2 cup, cocoa 2 tbsp.(then increase sugar by 1/2 cup), walnuts powdered 1/2 cup, etc. Add when the mixture is half cooked.

One may also prepare pinnis similarly from gram dal, urad dal, or wheatflour or gram flour,etc. If using flour, make sure it has been roasted in ghee on low fire, till golden, then and add some khoya which has been roasted to a dry light brown in same pan, after flour has been roasted and removed.