Adadiya Paak

Truly said, it’s a beauty of winter! Or I should say, a beauty of Indian Cuisine :) Every month, season, event have its own set of delicacies to be enjoyed. Quite like we make Undhiyu on Uttarayan (kite-flying day), Vrat specials during Shravan month, Aam-ras in summer etc. etc. It will take a month to prepare a complete list, I’m sure.

But from the start of winter, Gujjus (specifically, Kathiyawadis) never miss to eat any sort of ‘Vasana’ which literally means ‘winter-special healthy food-items’ :D Have tasted many varities of that zone too but out of all, ‘Adadiya’ is something we never missed out till date. I have always seen mum making a big container full of it… One, it’s healthy and second, it’s my dad’s favorite :) After marriage, I got to see the same scene at in-laws too! M-I-L and one of my aunts make it very special every year! And specially when it is prepared for hubby – a big sweet tooth owner :P And yes, this is the one made by aunt only when we visited India recently… I’m not sure when I’ll make it by myself but didn’t want to miss a chance of posting her authentic recipe this time :)

Makes: Approx 1 kg.

INGREDIENTS:

250 gm Urad Flour (coarse)
400 gm Ghee
1/4 cup Milk
100 gm Edible Gum
400 gm Sugar
1/2 cup Mixed Nuts
2 tsp Poppy Seeds
1 tbsp Dry Ginger Powder
1 tbsp Pepper Root Powder (Ganthoda)
50 gm Dessicated Coconut
1 tsp Cardamom Powder
1/4 tsp Nutmeg Powder

STEPS TO FOLLOW:

1. Mix ghee (300 gm) and milk in a big bowl. Add urad flour in it and mix with your palms until well combined. Let it rest for an hour or so.
2. Sieve the mixture twice and keep it aside.
3. Heat ghee in a thick-bottom pan and fry edible gum until puffed up and golden brown in color.
4. In the same pan, fry nuts too and keep aside.
5. Next comes, the urad flour mixture. Add it to the same pan and roast it until it starts changing color and becomes crisp.
6. Make sugar syrup of 1.5 string consistency and add nuts along with all other ingredients.
7. Keep the heat medium. Mix everything well and lastly add roasted flour. Keep stirring it on fast pace.
8. Once it becomes lumpy, transfer to a greased plate.
9. After half hour, cut it into pieces or make triangles with your fingers.
10. Serving one piece every morning keeps you healthy!!! :)