Tilachi Vadi or Sesame snaps
Makes 15
Makar Sankranti is the first festival of the year. Usually it is celebrated on 14th of January. It is celebrated in different states of India with different names. In Maharashtra, married women get together and exchange 'Haldi' (Turmeric) and 'Kumkum'(Vermillion). Give each other 'Tilgul' or 'Tilachi Vadi' and 'Halwa' while saying, 'Tilgul ghya ani goad bola' (Eat sweet and talk sweet) Til is sesame and Gul is jaggery. Very simple recipe to make 'Tilvadi' is given below:
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup sesame seeds
- ¼ cup grated jaggery
- 1 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 1 teaspoon dry ginger powder
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1½ tablespoon ghee/butter
Method:
- Add sesame seeds in a pan and dry roaste until the raw smell goes away. Fry on a low flame or else seeds may get burn. Keep it aside and let it cool.
- Grease the platform or the plate with a little ghee, where you are going to pour the vadi mixture. Also, grease the rolling pin with the ghee too.
- Heat a tablespoon ghee/butter in a pan. Add grated jaggery and a teaspoon of water. Keep it on low flame. Stir the jaggery continiously. Let it melt completely. It will start bubbling in a couple of minutes.
- When the jaggery stops bubbling, add sesame seeds, ½ teaspoon cardamom and ginger powder into the jaggery mixture. Switch off the flame. Mix it and immediately pour it on a greased plate. Start rolling with the rolling pin. Cut into squres with the knife while the mixture is hot. Sprinkle remaining cardamom powder and ginger powder. Let it cool down completely.
- Store it in a container.