Kaju Katli (or Kaju Katali) is a popular Indian sweet made with cashews, sugar, and a few other ingredients. It’s smooth, aromatic, and typically shaped into diamond pieces. Here’s a simple recipe for you to try:

Ingredients:

• Cashews (Kaju) – 1 cup (about 150-200g)
• Sugar – 1/2 cup
• Water – 1/4 cup
• Ghee (Clarified butter) – 1 tablespoon
• Cardamom powder – 1/4 teaspoon (optional, for flavor)
• Silver foil (optional) – for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Preparation

1. Soak the cashews: Soak the cashews in warm water for about 30 minutes to soften them.
2. Grind the cashews: Drain the cashews and grind them into a smooth, fine paste using a little water. It should be a smooth dough-like consistency, not runny.

Step 2: Cooking the Mixture

3. Make sugar syrup: In a non-stick pan, add sugar and water. Heat over medium flame and stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Let it cook for 1-2 minutes, but don’t let it reach a heavy consistency. You want a light thread consistency.
4. Add cashew paste: Once the sugar syrup is ready, add the cashew paste into the pan, and cook on low-medium heat. Stir continuously to prevent it from sticking to the pan.
5. Cook the mixture: As the cashew paste cooks, it will begin to thicken. Add ghee and continue stirring. Keep cooking until the mixture starts to leave the sides of the pan and forms a dough-like consistency.
6. Add cardamom (optional): At this stage, you can add cardamom powder for extra flavor.

Step 3: Shaping the Kaju Katli

7. Set the dough: Grease a plate or a flat surface with a little ghee. Transfer the cashew dough onto this surface while it’s still warm. Flatten it with a rolling pin into a smooth, even layer (about 1/4 inch thickness).
8. Cut into shapes: Once it cools slightly but is still soft, cut the dough into diamond shapes using a knife.
9. Garnish (optional): If you like, you can garnish with silver foil for a festive touch.

Step 4: Cooling and Serving

10. Let the Kaju Katli cool completely at room temperature, and then serve! They can be stored in an airtight container for a week or more.

Enjoy your homemade, delicious Kaju Katli!

Kaju Katali

Rating: 4/5

Preparation Time: 15 m
Cooking Time: 20 m
Total Time: 35 m