Tilkut is a traditional Indian sweet made with roasted sesame seeds (til), jaggery, and a hint of ghee, often enjoyed during winter and festive occasions like Makar Sankranti. It is prepared by roasting sesame seeds to release their nutty aroma, grinding them coarsely with peanuts, and then mixing them into a thick jaggery syrup (chashni). The mixture is quickly shaped and set into discs or any form before it hardens, giving it a crisp yet slightly chewy texture. Go through my easy recipe to learn the steps to make tilkut at home.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Tilkut is a popular traditional sweet in India, especially consumed during Makar Sankranti.
- Serve it with a cup of tea or as a festive snack after meals.
- It has a nutty, crunchy, and mildly sweet taste with a rich jaggery flavor.
- Other similar recipes are til ladoo, chikki, gajak, and peanut chikki.
The Ingredients:
- 1.5 cup white sesame seeds (til)
- 3 tbsp peanuts (roasted)
- 1 cup jaggery
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tsp ghee (clarified butter)
I found a tiny sheet of paper inside a secondhand book which I bought at a garage sale. There were a few instructions in very average handwriting about this dish, along with some expert tips. I wrote it down clearly in my kitchen diary and wanted to make it the next weekend.
I was quite apprehensive whether it would be crunchy and nice to eat, but to my surprise, it achieved perfect results with its texture reaching the desired state. My husband enjoyed the taste while my sons declared it their most preferred dish. The discovery of the small note I found inside the book brought me such great joy.
How to Make Tilkut? (Step by Step Guide with Images)
Step 1: Dry roast and remove 1.5 cups of white sesame seeds (til) on a low flame until they change their color slightly.
Step 2: Melt 1 cup of jaggery with ¼ cup of water over a low flame for 2 to 3 minutes to make a chashni. When it boils, add 1 tsp of ghee (clarified butter).
Step 3: Stir continuously until it changes color and becomes thick. Take a small drop in a bowl of water. Check whether it breaks easily when cool.
Step 4: Transfer the roasted sesame seeds to a mixie jar along with 3 tbsp of roasted peanuts and make a coarse powder. Check it.
Step 5: Add the powder to the chashni. Mix nicely.
Step 6: Transfer the mixture on a plate greased with a bit of ghee. Roll it quickly before it solidifies.
Step 7: Cut pieces with a cookie cutter or a stainless-steel glass. Use a knife or spatula to free the bottom. Break the circular pieces carefully when cold.
Step 8: Your nice and delicious homemade tilkut is ready.
Recipe Card
Tilkut
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup white sesame seeds til
- 3 tbsp peanuts roasted
- 1 cup jaggery
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tsp ghee clarified butter
Instructions
- Dry roast and remove 1.5 cups of white sesame seeds (til) on a low flame until it changes its color slightly.
- Melt 1 cup of jaggery with ¼ cups of water over a low flame for 2 to 3 minutes to make a chashni. When it boils, add 1 tsp of ghee (clarified butter).
- Stir continuously until it changes color and becomes thick. Take a small drop in a bowl of water. Check whether it breaks easily when cool.
- Transfer the roasted sesame seeds to a mixie jar along with 3 tbsp of roasted peanuts and make a coarse powder. Check it.
- Add the powder to the chashni. Mix nicely.
- Transfer the mixture on a plate greased with a bit of ghee. Roll it quickly before it solidifies.
- Cut pieces with a cookie cutter or a stainless-steel glass. Use a knife or spatula to free the bottom. Break the circular pieces carefully when cold.
- Your nice and delicious homemade tilkut is ready.
