Ingredients:
2 cups dessicated coconut grated coarsely
1/2 peanuts roasted, skinned, crushed coarsely
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp. oil
smooth stone surface
2 metal spatula
1 rolling pin
1 jelly mould or other basin, about 8" in diameter on mouth
Method:
- Put 1 tbsp. sugar in a small pan, keep aside.
- Put 2-1/2 cups sugar in a heavy pan, heat.
- Meanwhile grease surface, one spatula, rolling pin, outside of basin, keep ready.
- When sugar begins to melt, stir gently with ungreased spatula.
- When fully melted and light golden brown, add coconut and peanuts.
- Take off fire, mix well, empty onto greased surface.
- Using both spatula, knead mixture well till shiny.
- Used greased palms to shape mixture once handlable.
- Be very quick or the mixture will harden.
- Take a fistful mixture, roll into a long strip approx. 14" long and 1 1/2" wide.
- Bend like a bow, into a handle, with ends 8" apart. Keep aside to cool and harden.
- Roll the remaining mixture into a round big enough to cover inverted basin.
- Mould edges, etc. with hand, on basin, to give a basket shape to the round.
- Keep aside to cool and harden.
- When both handle and basket have become cold and hard, melt remaining sugar.
- When dissolved fully to a light brown, dip both ends of handle in it.
- Place handle in place over basket to fit comfortably, and hold allowing melted sugar to harden.
- Meanwhile pour remaining sugar into crevices, etc. at joint to give better bond.
- Allow to harden fully before placing inside transparent glazed paper or bag to seal from moisture.
- Gift or use as an attractive table centrepiece.
- Fill with chocolates, cookies, coconut laddoos, etc. after lining inside with foil.
- Keep in airtight container or in sealed plastic sheet, to keep from becoming soggy.
- To gift, decorate with satin ribbon curls, bows, etc. on plastic sheet.
Making time: 15 minutes
Makes: One 8" basket
Shelflife: 1 month, if left sealed
Note: It is important to be very quick and not let mixture cool before moulding, or it will harden, and no moulding will be possible. Make the mixture twice, first for handle, then for basket if you are alone and may not be able to make both fast enough.
The same chikki, may be just rolled into a big square shape and small squares marked while warm to give small pieces on cooling, instead of forming a basket.
Coconut Dishes Index
