Raksha Bandhan has arrived, and it is time to toast the beautiful bond between brothers and sisters with some traditional sweets. Rakhi requires some pampering, and what could be better than making some delectable sweets to treat your sibling? Here are a few quick and simple traditional Indian sweets that you can make at home with little effort.
Kaju Katli
This traditional Kaju Katli will add sweetness to your festival. Simply take 2 cups of roasted/unroasted Kaju to make this simple recipe (cashew nuts). Finely grind them. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine 12 cup sugar and water to make a sugar syrup. Cardamom powder can be added to enhance the flavour. Then, gently mix in the Kaju powder with the sugar syrup. Allow to cool before pouring this mixture onto a greased tray, allowing it to set before cutting into desired shapes and serving.
Kheer
Without this pious delight, celebrations and festivals are incomplete. Simply soak some rice for 1-2 hours to make a simple Kheer. Then, warm a vessel and add 1 litre of milk to it. Continue to stir while the milk is reduced to half. Reduce or turn off the heat once the milk appears slightly thick, then add the sugar and soaked rice. Stir in some condensed milk, cardamom, and saffron strands, and mix well. Remove from the heat and stir in the dry fruits and nuts.
Besan Ladoo
To make this quick Besan Ladoo recipe, take a large kadhai and heat it on medium flame. Add besan(gram flour) and dry roast it nicely. Transfer this to a bowl and to the same pan and ghee. Once the ghee is melted, add the roasted besan and mix well, keep stirring. Then add in powdered sugar, a dash of cardamom powder, and keep stirring till a thick mixture is attained. Grease your palms, roll small ladoos and enjoy.
Pista Burfi
If you’re looking for a creamy, nutty Burfi recipe, try this delicious yet simple Pista Burfi made with roasted pistachios. In a saucepan, combine sugar, water, and saffron strands. Meanwhile, remove the pistachio shells and finely grind them. When the sugar syrup has reduced and reached a good consistency, add the pistachio mixture and mix well with a few drops of edible food colour. Allow this mixture to thicken before transferring to a ghee-greased plate and cutting into desired shapes.
Badam Halwa
Make a creamy, rich almond halwa to spoil your sibling this Rakhi. Simply take two cups of almonds and grind them. After that, melt some ghee in a pan and ghee roast some sliced almonds and dry fruits. Transfer to a plate and set aside for garnishing. Next, add more ghee and almond powder to the same pan, stirring constantly. When the halwa is creamy, you can either add condensed milk or just sugar. Adjust the sugar to taste, then transfer to a plate and top with ghee-roasted almonds and dry fruits.
