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What fascinates me is the alacrity with which India embraces til (sesame) every winter. As the country gears up to celebrate Makar Sankranti, Pongal, and Lohri (festivals specific to different cultures and communities across India, but each heralding the harvest season), til becomes the ingredient of choice for the occasion. Its versatile, delicious quotient and ease of working with have given it an enthusiastic nod of approval from chefs across India.
Beyond the eponymous laddoo (a bite-sized sweet made from jaggery and sesame seeds), there are several fun fusion dishes, with til as their hero. In this piece, we encourage you to experiment.
1. Til paneer
Despite its exalted culinary status, til tastes best when paired with an ingredient that counters its sweet, bitter, astringent, and nutty flavour. Paneer (cottage cheese) is one such ingredient; its soft, creamy notes provide the perfect balance.
It goes without saying that the snack ‘crispy sesame seed paneer’ is a healthy binge; it is a powerhouse of protein and minerals.
2. Til and nuts gur chikki
I’m yet to discover an ingredient as feted in Indian households as gur (jaggery). A healthier alternative to sugar, jaggery lends its quintessential rich, deep notes to the dish it enters, elevating its taste quotient instantly.
And chikkis (brittles) are a classic way of pairing jaggery with sesame, dry fruits and other seeds to create a satiating snack. This particular recipe combines the added goodness of rose petals and pistachios.
3. Gur til makhana
“Guilt-free delicious bites”, as chef Renu Dalal calls them, the snack is packed with the nutritional perks of makhana (fox nuts), gur (jaggery), til and peanuts. Despite this array of ingredients, the snack is a lesson in subtlety, allowing each ingredient to have its spotlight, and lend its unique taste to the dish.
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The bites are then mixed in caramel to give them a delicious glazing.
4. Til chocolate barfi
Traditional flavours and modern indulgence come together in this til chocolate barfi (a milk-based dessert with a fudge-like consistency featuring chocolate and sesame seeds). It’s a perfect example of how fusion desserts can be fun while staying true to traditional Indian recipes.
You can also add cardamom powder to the recipe to give it an aromatic and flavourful depth.
5. Til milk cake
Who doesn’t love some good ol’ milk cake? And when til features in the mix, lending its earthy flavours, the result is pretty awesome.
The sweet and velvety notes of the milk temper the grittiness of the sesame seeds, making the dessert a beautiful symphony of flavours. In fact, milk cake is one of the simplest snacks or desserts to prepare when you are short on time.
6. Til papdi
Don’t we all enjoy festivals for their ability to bring the family together to reminisce stories from yesteryear? Well, the most important accompaniment to these gupshup sessions (informal chats) is the snacks.
And the til papdi (crispy chips) never disappoints. It makes for a great treat to munch on whilst you settle down with your family for a fun-filled festival.
7. Sesame cookies
If you’re a fan of cookies, why not top them up with some sesame? Sesame cookies are a popular snack and make for a healthy binge option.
The crunch of the sesame beautifully complements the chewy interior of the cookie. This Makar Sankranti, bake a batch of them and watch how it livens up the snack table.
Edited by Khushi Arora