KADALA MITTAI/ GROUNDNUT CANDY

I don't think there is any Indian that hasn't seen or tasted a groundnut candy before. We all grew up eating the famous Rajarams groundnut balls/ bars. I remember snuggling in bed with a favourite book......... and some Rajarams! Cheers to those days when I had nothing to do!

Even now whenever my mum visits me, probably the first thing she will put into her suitcase are these groundnut candies for me! hahahahaha..........somethings will never change! and now, my younger one loves them too!:)

These candies are so easy to make. Those of you staying far away from India or still under lockdown................you can thank me later! These candies are literally so quick to put together and your snack for the week is sorted. Just don't forget to send me the pictures later! Would love to know what you think!! 

INGREDIENTS:

peanuts - 1 cup

jaggery powdered - 1 cup

cardamom powder - slightly more than a pinch(optional)

ghee - 1 tbsp + more for greasing

PROCESS:

• Grease a 17cms x 11 cms pan with ghee and keep it ready. You may use a slightly bigger size for a thinner slab of groundnut candy
• Dry roast the peanuts on low flame without changing its colour. Let it cool and gently press and rub them to remove the skins. Keep aside.
• In a saucepan heat the jaggery and 1/4 cup of water. Bring to boil and then turn off the flame once the jaggery has completely dissolved.
• Pass the jaggery syrup through a sieve just to get rid of the impurities if any.
• Now, return the strained jaggery syrup back to the same pan and heat on low flame.
• Add the ghee and keep stirring so the bottoms don't burn.

• Now, keep a small bowl of water ready. this is to check the consistency of the jaggery.
• Drop a few drops of the jaggery syrup into the bowl of water. If you are able to roll the jaggery with your fingers, then you need to continue cooking. This is NOT the right consistency.
• After cooking for a few more minutes, drop a few drops of jaggery syrup into the bowl of water to check again. The jaggery must break into 2. this is the correct consistency.

• At this point, switch off the flame and drop the peanuts and cardamom powder into the jaggery syrup and mix quickly.
• it will harden very fast. so we must be quick to mix. 
• Quickly transfer the mixed peanuts into our prepared tin and flatten it out with the help of a greased spoon.
• Then, quickly overturn it onto a plate cut it into small pieces.(desired size)
• let it cool. Store in an airtight container.

NOTES:

• The most important thing that we need to pay attention to here is the consistency of the jaggery. If we remove the jaggery syrup from the flame before it has reached the right consistency the groundnut candy will be soft and chewy. Not crunchy.
• After the peanuts have been mixed with the jaggery we need to act quickly because it hardens very fast. Also, as soon as we flatten it out in the tin  we must quickly remove it from the tin and cut into pieces. If we let it harden in the tin, it's very difficult to remove from the tin despite greasing the tin.