CHIKKI FROM LONAVALA

Whenever there is a long weekend,  you see all Mumbaikars making a beeline for the hill stations of Lonavala, Khandala, Matheran or Mahabaleshwar.

While in these places, one does not fail to see the numerous shops selling chikki, fudges, fruit candies and many more sweet delights. I am sure many will agree, you cannot return home or to office without carrying a packet to share with everyone.

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The process of arriving at any kind of chikki is a simple yet a play of technique. The sugar or jaggery is boiled along with glucose to reach the consistency of a thick caramel which is not too fluid and whole nuts or sometimes crushed ones are tossed into it. This mixture has to be spread onto a greased platform and rolled out into sheets of about half a centimeter thickness within a matter of few seconds. Once cooled, small squares are cut out to ease consumption.

What I love the most are the crisp, nut chikkis, which are a simple mixture of jaggery or sugar, glucose, traces of ghee and nuts like ground nuts, cashew nuts, pistachios and almonds.

While in Lonavla, I wanted to try and bring home something more special, so went in for Maganlal rose-kaju chikki. This is nothing but cashew nut chikki laden with rose flower petals. It's a perfect sweet treat for those having sweet teeth.

Till then, Happy Eating...