Til Sankari (Tilgul) - Sesame Snaps!

Today is Makarsankranti. It is one of the Indian festivals which always falls on January 14th. All our other festivals follow the lunar calendar and thus, are on different dates every year! :)

Makarsankranti has many significances for many people, and you can read about it here on wiki :) People fly kites in India, and you can listen to a beautiful song Kaipoche (it is cut) from the movie "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" (I Have Given You My Heart)

The recipe is really simple, and I watched it on Show Me The Curry (a delightful YouTube channel!)

• 1 tbsp clarified Butter (Ghee)
• ¾ cup grated/crumbled jaggery (Gud/Gor)
• 2 tsp milk
• ¼ tsp cardamom powder
• 1 cup dry roasted sesame seeds (Til)
• ½ roasted unsalted p-Peanuts

1. Have a tray ready - (I used an 8x8), grease it or line it with parchment/wax paper. (If you're using parchment/wax paper, cut an extra square to go on top on the mixture when it is in the tray)
2. In a pan, add the clarified Butter and heat on medium heat until it melts
3. Add in the jaggery and stir continuously till it melts and starts to bubble
4. Add the milk and mix, take the pan off the flame and allow it to cool for just a couple of minutes
5. Add the cardamom powder, sesame seeds and peanuts and mix well
6. Put the mixture in the tray evenly, and place the other parchment/wax sheet over it, and press firmly using a flat spoon. If you've greased your tray, and don't have parchment/wax paper, coat the back of the spoon with some melted ghee and press...
7. While the mixture is still warm, cut it into shapes (I had 36 squares in my pan. One score down the middle, and then two scores either side. Turn the tray 45 degrees and repeat)
8. Allow it to cool and harden, then take the shapes out
9. Once it is hard it will easily snap and the pieces can be separated.
10. Store at room temperature in an air-tight container, and eat when you feel peckish!

Note: I found that my dish was very soft and crumbly - because of the jaggery. My pieces would not hold. So  I made a thick sugar syrup (½-tar) with about ½ cup of sugar and 2 tbsp of water. I added my mixture back into the pan of sugar syrup, and mixed everything up again, then repeated from step 6 onwards. My pieces are still soft, but they hold their shape this time.

"Meethe gud mein mil gaya til, Udi patang aur khil gaya dil, Har pal sukh aur har pal shanti, Wishing you all a Shubh Makarsankranti!" ♥

Which mean - "The sweet jaggery has met with the sesame seeds, The kite has flown high and my heart has swelled, Wishing you peace of mind and happiness and a happy Makarsankranti!"