Patram Pushpam

Category: Food & Kitchen

Recipes, sweets and traditional dishes, and how to store and use them.

  • Dry Fruits in Festive Traditions

    Dry fruits appear in many festivals and rituals, from offerings in worship to gifts exchanged between families.

    Offerings and prasad

    Cashews, raisins and almonds are common in sweets prepared as offerings.

    Gifts and hospitality

    A box of dry fruits is a traditional gift during festivals, and a symbol of goodwill and prosperity.

  • Kaju Barfi: A Tihar Favourite

    Kaju Barfi: A Tihar Favourite

    Kaju barfi (also called kaju katli) is a fudge made from ground cashews and sugar syrup, cut into diamonds and often topped with silver leaf.

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup cashews
    • ½ cup sugar
    • ¼ cup water
    • 1 tsp ghee

    Method

    1. Grind the cashews to a fine powder.
    2. Boil the sugar and water to a one-string syrup.
    3. Stir in the cashew powder and cook until it forms a soft dough.
    4. Knead with ghee, roll out and cut into diamonds.
  • Cashews: From Tree to Table

    Cashews: From Tree to Table

    Each cashew grows on the outside of a fruit called the cashew apple.

    Processing

    1. The nuts are dried in the sun.
    2. They are roasted or steamed to remove the toxic shell oil.
    3. The shells are cracked and the kernels peeled by hand.

    Storing cashews

    Keep them in an airtight jar in a cool, dark place, or in the fridge for longer freshness.