Want to make the Best Chikki? Looking for an easy way to Make Peanut Chikki with video and step by step photos? Here it is.
Generally during Makar Sankranti Peanut Chikki is made in every household. Just like Til Gud ki Chikki Peanut Chikki has many religious significances all over the country.
What is Peanut Chikki?
So, let's learn what is meant by Peanut Chikki? So, basically, this is a bar that is sometimes made in a circular form. It is made of jaggery and peanuts.
Peanut Chikki is undoubtedly one of the most popular Indian desserts, especially amongst kids. This is traditionally made in a square form but I have made it in a circular form. Well, the choice is yours. You can give it whatever shape you want.
How to Make Peanut Chikki?
- Dry Roast Peanuts: Now comes to the peanuts. So take a saucepan and into that add some peanuts. Dry roast the peanuts until some of them start peeling off or turn light golden brown.
- Remove the Skin from Peanuts: Now take these peanuts in a bag. Rub the bag lightly as shown in the video and the skin of peanuts will automatically come off. You can place them on a plate and blow a little so that the remaining skin comes out quickly.
- Melt Jaggery: Take a saucepan. Into that add jaggery and some water. Allow it to melt completely. It is very important that you use a good quality of jaggery for this step. Although, here in India, Jaggery is sold in almost all grocery stores and it is widely available all year long. Once the jaggery has melted completely take it off the heat and keep it aside. Check if it is done by adding a drop of jaggery in a bowl of cold water. It should turn into a ball immediately. And, you'll be able to break open this ball in two parts. If it forms strings then cook for some more time.
- Add Dry Roasted Peanuts in Melted Jaggery: Finally, turn off the heat and then add dry roasted peanuts in melted jaggery and stir well to combine.
- Place it on a plate: Place it on a plate or a wooden chopping board – greased with ghee – in the form of a circle or a square. You can either place all of it at once and then cut out squares. Or you can place them with a spoon. As soon as you place them they will hold shape. Now you can either flatten them out or just make it look perfectly circular with your hands. Let it stay on the plate for about 5-minutes and then it will hold its shape. Just pick it out using a knife and you have a beautiful Peanut Chikki ready.
Tips to Make the Best Peanut Chikki Ever:
These are the tips that I have learned over a period of years. After making this recipe again and again I have come across so many problems and these tips have helped me come along.
- Maintain a ratio of Peanut and Jaggery: In this recipe, you do not need too much peanut and too little jaggery. In fact, I make it in a way where I add more jaggery as compared to peanuts. This ratio helps me make the best chikki.
- Do not add Peanuts with Skin: You should never add Peanuts with Skin. Peanuts with skin would taste really bad in your chikki. So, no matter how long it takes make sure you peel off all the peanut skin before using it in your chikki.
- Check the Doneness of Melted Jaggery: To know that your jaggery is done, make sure you take a drop of jaggery and place it in a bowl of cold water. It should form a hard ball like shape immediately. When you try to break this shape it will come out into two distinct shapes without any strings in between.
- Add Peanuts with Heat Turned Off: Always add peanuts into your melted Jaggery with the heat turned off.
- Don’t Worry about Shape: Basically, you can give your chikki any shape you want. So, it doesn’t really matter if it is square or circle or any other shape.
My Chikki Has Strings in between?
Chikki should not have strings in between. It should break apart like candy. For this, you have to melt your Jaggery appropriately.
Melt Jaggery and check doneness by adding a drop of jaggery in a bowl of cold water. If it breaks apart completely then it is done.
If you see strings then melt your jaggery for a few more seconds. Keep a close eye on it as this is the very last step and it might turn burnt in a matter of seconds.
How to Store Peanut Chikki?
You can store Peanut Chikki for about 2-weeks at room temperature. There is no need to refrigerate Peanut chikki. You can keep it at room temperature. But, make sure your chikki is covered and kept in an air-tight container such as a Tupperware.
Two chikkis can stick to each other so make sure you place a parchment paper or butter paper between each chikki so that they do not stick to each other.
Other Recipes you might like:
Chikki Recipe | Peanut Chikki Recipe
Equipment
- skillet
Ingredients
- ¾ Cup Peanuts
- 1 Cup Jaggery
- ¼ Cup Water
- 3 Tablespoon Ghee
Instructions
- Heat a Nonstick pan. Add Peanuts and dry roast peanuts stirring often. Dry roast on a medium-low flame. Keep stirring often. You will some of them peeling off in the pan all by themself or you'll see them getting a light brown charred texture on one side. At this point, turn off the heat and take out the peanuts in a bag.Rub the bag lightly as shown in the video and then take them out in a mortar pestle.
- Lightly crush peanuts using a mortar pestle and then they'll be ready for use.
- Heat a non-stick pan. Add Jaggery and water. Allow it to come to a slow boil on low heat. Stir occasionally and don't let it stick to the bottom of the pan. Add Ghee and mix well. Let it come to a slow boil and then just add 1 drop of melted jaggery in a bowl of cold water. Pick the drop with your finger. If it forms a hard ball consistency then it is done. In case you see strings then it is NOT done. You might need to melt jaggery for a few more seconds. But, this is nearing the end-stage. So be very careful and don't allow it to get burnt. Once perfectly done, the drop should harden immediately and you'll be able to break it like candy into two distinct parts without any strings.
- Now once it reaches this stage, turn off the heat. Now add Peanuts and mix well.
- Pour this on a wooden plate or steel plate. Roll it lightly using a rolling pin and then cut them into squares immediately.Or take a spoon of the mixture and place it in the form of a circle on a steel plate or a wooden plate. Shape it in a perfect circle with your hands.
Video
Notes
- Do not overcook your Jaggery. Check by adding a drop of jaggery in a bowl of cold water. It should break apart into two distinct pieces without any strings in between. If you see strings then cook for a few more seconds.