Orange and Cardamon Barfi

After 5 not great attempts at making the sort of Barfi that I buy in the Indian quarter on Belgrave Road in Leicester for Prepped! I called Dharmesh who owns Bobby’s Restaurant in Leicester and asked for advice.  He immediately said he’d lend me his wonderful chef Depak Modak , who is in this video below and showed me just how to make it!

I came home and set straight to making it.  Barfi or Burfi as it is also known is a sweet from India. It’s a super present to make and enjoy at any time of year but I particularly like to make it at Christmas because of the cardamoms in the recipe. It tastes festive.  I know that production of it goes to double time and then some at Diwali. It’s simple quick and easy to make and taste fabulous. I was asking Dharmesh about their celebrations at Bobby’s restaurant and if they do anything special to celebrate Christmas. His face broke out in the broadest grin ever as he confirmed what I had thought … that they celebrate everything at every opportunity, Diwali, Eid and Christmas and anything else worth being festive about in-between.  As it should be.  Food is about celebrating and this Barfi recipe certainly does that!

I’ve modified Depak Modak’s recipe with just one addition - orange zest - otherwise this is the exact recipe.

Makes 12 pieces

Preparation 5 minutes

Cooking time 5 minutes

Ingredients

200ml cold water

120g ghee.

500g full fat milk powder

200ml warm water

160g  sugar

one tsp cardamom powder

Zest of 1 orange

70 g chopped Pistachio’s and Almonds

1 tsp vegetable oil

Method

1 Put the Milk powder into a large bowl. In a saucepan heat the water and 100g of ghee.  Once at boiling point pour onto the milk solids and mix well with a spoon.  You can then use your hand to mix once the temperature has come down.

2 In the same saucepan add a further 20g of ghee, another 200ml of water, the sugar and the cardamom powder.  Heat to dissolve the sugar.  Turn the milk powder mix into the pan and add the orange zest.  Mix well over a high heat for just one minute and then turn onto an oiled tray.

3 Scatted with chopped nuts and leave to set for 4 – 5 hours . Cut into shapes.  Use with a week.  Keep cool.

I also took a moment to work out the price of this recipe for the quantities used.

It’s a rough estimate but her goes

£0.75 ghee

£2.25 milk powder

£0.25 orange

£0.75 chopped nuts

£0.05 tsp cardamom powder

Total cost £4.05 / 12 pieces  = 33p each