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November 9, 2012

KAJU LOTUS | KAJU FLOWER – DIWALI SWEET RECIPES

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Kaju lotus/ Kaju flower recipe with step by step. Whenever I go to restaurants, I never forget to look at the sweets section. Some sweets would be really eye-catchy. One such sweet which caught my attention is Kaju lotus. I wanted to try this for long time but I dint have any clue about it. Last year, during diwali we bought aval vikatan magazine and i got Menu rani chellam’s diwali sweet recipes as supplementary..She had given the recipes of most popular sweets which had the recipe of kaju lotus too. If you are able to make kaju katli , you can easily try this sweet. Its the same procedure with slight variations in the end.

Do watch my video (A small attempt) for making this shape). U can try making Kaju mango, Kaju apple, Kaju strawberry like in sweet stalls using the same dough. Hope mine looks like Kaju lotus. Try to make 6 petals as given in the original recipe. I had cut around 8.. I guess I’ll get the perfect shape in future. I am happy with the result as this is my second attempt. I’ve given the tips to overcome the problems you get while making this sweet. Hope this post would be useful.. Do try and let me know friends. Surprise your family with this colorful sweet for diwali. 


Kaju lotus/Kaju flower recipe


Kaju lotus/Kaju flower recipe Colorful Kaju lotus/Kaju flower recipe - A welcome change from usual kaju katli !
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Sweet
Serves:
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 10 Minutes
Total time: 20 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

  • Cashewnuts - 1/2 cup
  • Food color - Red & Green ( a pinch)
  • Ghee - 1 tsp ( to grease the plate)
  • Milk - 1 tsp ( optional,to troubleshoot)
For syrup
  • Sugar - 1/4 cup
  • Water – 2.5 tbsp
METHOD

  • Powder the cashews at room temperature by stopping the mixie at regular intervals. Wipe the sides & bottom of jar every time while grinding. Use pulse option if needed.  ( I felt this as easy. One more way is run the mixie continuously till you get a fine powder, follow any based on your wish.But do not grind it for long time. Cashews will become a sticky paste)
Kaju-lotus
  • Keep the food color and the ghee greased plate ready. ( I dint have liquid food color , so I added a pinch of food color in 1/2 tsp water and used a few drops)
  • In a vessel, add sugar and cover with water. Heat till it reaches ONE STRING CONSISTENCY .i.e Take a drop of syrup from the back of ladle. Keep it between your thumb & forefinger. When you release you finger,it will form a thin string of 1 inch.This is called one string consistency.
kaju-katli-tile2_thumb1

  • Now add the cashew powder immediately,keep the flame low and stir continuously till it leaves the sides and becomes a thick, non-sticky dough.  After adding the powder, it takes just 3-4 mins in low flame to reach this stage. Be alert.( This is the procedure for kaju katli. U can knead the dough, roll it to make shape ) Stop here if you are making kaju katli . Proceed for kaju lotus..
kaju-katli-tiile3_thumb3

  • Now put the cashew dough in the greased plate and divide the dough into two parts using a spoon. Add few drops of red & green food color in each dough, mix it with spoon for uniform distribution.No problem even if it dint mix properly. We are going to knead it .. Leave it for 5 mins. Let it become warm. If you remove the mixture ( a few seconds before) when it is like slightly sticky chapathi dough, you dont have to add milk. The dough will harden in few mins. If you miss this stage, no worries. If you feel the mixture is dry & crumbly, add 1/2 tsp milk in each half of the dough along with food color (I added 1/2 tsp milk in each dough before kneading.)
    • After it is warm , apply ghee in ur hands & start kneading the dough to make it soft & non-sticky. Do the same for the other dough and start making the shape. Cover the dough while you make the shape to avoid drying.
kaju-katli-tile3_thumb3
kaju lotus tile4
  • Make a big gooseberry sized ball with green dough and make it flat by pressing with your palm.Take a ball of red dough and keep it in the center of green dough. Bring all the corners together and close it to make a ball.( Use the procedure of stuffing kozhukattai & paratha). ( while doing this you may get cracks, don't panic. If you roll tightly , it will become smooth OR Add little more milk and knead the dough. But 1/2 tsp would be enough ). 
kaju lotus tile5
  • Make all the balls, cover it and give a setting time of 30 minutes. Now, using a sharp Knife cut the ball to make a flower shape. While you make the shape, the mixture may leave oil. No problem ( Hope this video helps for better understanding) I have given two videos. Use whichever is convenient. Adjust the number of petals as you like.. As per the original book, the number of petals is 6. I made 7- 8. Use silver warq while rolling the balls if necessary..
  • kaju lotus tile6
Enjoy !


Note

    • The consistency of sugar syrup is very important here. One string should be compulsory.
    • After adding cashew powder, keep on stirring till the cashew gets cooked and makes a dough.. To know the correct consistency, you can check by making a small ball which will be non-sticky. Dough will slide from the pan without sticking.
    • Try to knead the dough when it is warm.  If you feel the dough is dry and crumbly, add little milk.
    • If the dough is correct, you may not need milk. U can directly start kneading and rolling. Adding milk may reduce the shelf life of the sweet, flatten the balls you may not get the exact shape too.
    • Setting time of 30 mins is necessary for the balls. If you have added more milk to knead the dough, the milk will settle in the bottom of the ball after the setting time. No problem, just wipe it with a tissue and start cutting the shape.
    • This sweet will come out well for sure if you have practice in making kaju katli. Beginners can also dare to give a try because if I make it, anyone can.
    • Try making the balls slighlty oval in shape to get the exact shape of kaju lotus as in sweet stalls.


METHOD–1






Try this sweet and make this diwali a colorful one :)



Try this sweet stall style Kaju lotus and make this diwali a colorful one !
kaju lotus piece
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY DIWALI, BYE..




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48 comments :

Babitha said...

Lovely lotus,well explained,want to grab some

Sangeetha Nambi said...

Sooooooooo perfect... I am really impressed with ur step by step clicks...
http://recipe-excavator.blogspot.com

chef and her kitchen said...

Wow,it looks so colorful n yummy chitra..Good attempt,nice variation for kaju katli as u said

Unknown said...

Wow!!! Have no words to say how impressed I am!!! I make kaju katili and have seen these flowers at the restaurants.. thanks for guiding on how to do them.... very impressive...
Sowmya

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Shanthi Krishnakumar said...

Wow looks so wonderful. Nice recipe

Nisa Homey said...

wow!!totally impressed...just the way it is in sweets shop..bookmarked.

Mahi said...

I saw the recipe in Aval vikatan! Kaju flowers are looking cute!

Raji said...

Very impressive..these look so professional just like how we get in sweet shops. Kudos to your efforts.

Vimitha Durai said...

Beautiful clicks and an awesome sweet... Bookmarking will try soon...

virunthu unna vaanga said...

wow so impressive dear chitra... i too very big fan of this colorful n innovative sweets... will try soon...
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Prema said...

Wow i totally loved,luks cute...sure will try:)

Shruti Dhingra Wahi said...

Beautiful ........want to grab some :-)
ShrutiRasoi
Today's Recipe
Namak Pare ( Salty Indian Snack )

Rekha said...

wow it looks so beautiful and neat presentation.
http://www.indiantastyfoodrecipes.com/

Raks said...

Wonderfully made. Love it a lot Hats off! :) I am graduated only to make kaju katli so far, so will try this later for sure ;)

Aruna Manikandan said...

wow...
beautiful post chitra :)

Sangeetha Priya said...

Well done Chitra, this is the one in mind for long time, bookmarking dear!!!

Indian Khana said...

Whenever I go to sweet shop I love all those cute shaped sweets ...you did it so well....loving it

Finla said...

Wowo they look so so beautiful. Love them.

Suja Manoj said...

Impressive,looks so pretty,yum sweet

Unknown said...

Looks so cute!colorful!

Priya Suresh said...

Damn cute Kaju lotus, wish i live near you..Very impressive and pretty attractive.

Julie said...

wow..super cutee,inviting & innovative one for Diwali..:)
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Jeyashris Kitchen said...

Fantastic work Chitra. Beautifully made. Can't take eyes from your clicks

Barbara said...

Thank you for such a great tutorial! I want to make these - they are beautiful and you made them seem simple... question, do you use raw or roasted cashews? ([email protected])

Vidya Chandrahas said...

Very very attractive...look so cute chitra.

Chitra said...

@ Barbara , I used raw cashews only. If u want u can also roast them in low flame ( without changing the color) and then grind it. I have tried this method for kaju katli. It also works :)

Chitra said...

Thanks all for ur sweet comments. Do try this and leave ur comments. I'll be more happy :)

Jingalala said...

Chithu,
I doubt if they are from your kitchen or from some Haldiram's sweets box :P :D
Oh, my God!!!! so Pppppperrrrfect they are girl! Your kaju flowers are really like giving us a warm smile! Romba azhaga iruku. Nalla iruku Chitra. :)

Madhavi said...

AWESOME, AMAZING, SUPER SUPER POST.... :)))

http://vegetarianmedley.blogspot.com/

Vikis Kitchen said...

Beautiful...beautiful..beautiful...Love those lotus very much. Perfectly done Chitra. Happy Deepavali to you and family dear.

Indrani said...

Really, Chitra, no words, very impressive tutorial, You explained it like a pro,,may be I'll dare to make these someday..you did a gr8 Job, Happy diwali dear

Unknown said...

Hi!first time here.looks so delicious.Happy to follow you:)Visit my space too:)will you support me?

Jaleela Kamal said...

rompa romp asuper chitra

harini said...

hi chitra, i made kaju lotus yesterday.it was awesome.thanks a lot to u.it is like a dream coming true. even i could do this. i cant believe this.thanks for ur step by step photos,tips.i was searching for this recipe for diwali.but i dont know how i missed u.i love this sweet very much.

cookbookjaleela said...

very beautiful chirta again i will came here , have a look for this cute lotus kaju, Just Now I seen in your kaju in virunthu unnavaangka..

Unknown said...

thank
u so much mam that who has post this kaju katli.its was surprised tat i
make tat.'m wondered at the end of the sweet completed.thanx a lot
mam.plz post more variety for us.

Motions and Emotions said...

Cooking is an art & your dish shows it!

Chitra said...

Thanks for trying and the feedback :)

Chitra said...

Thanks a lot harini. Iam so happy.. Glad u liked it :)

Unknown said...

Awesome work and it is easy to understand with pictures.

Unknown said...

Awesome work,and it is easy to understand with the pictures.

Unknown said...

hi chitthra,

I tried kaju flower recipe, it came out so well... posted in my blog too... pls chk http://easyandsimplefoods.blogspot.com/2014/03/kaju-flower-holi-special-sweet-recipe.html
thanks again :)

Chitra said...

Thank u so much Tanya :) U made my day . Thanks for the link love :)

Unknown said...

Hi chitra
How to keep d cashew dough soft n pliable to make de shape

Chitra said...

Hi roopa
If you remove the cashew dough as soon as it starts to leave from kadai,it will become soft n right in texture as it cools down.u can play with it to make shapes.But if the dough becomes hard add milk as i suggested. It works. To retain the softness of dough wrap it in a cover n keep in a box.

Chitra said...

Hi roopa
If you remove the cashew dough as soon as it starts to leave from kadai,it will become soft n right in texture as it cools down.u can play with it to make shapes.But if the dough becomes hard add milk as i suggested. It works. To retain the softness of dough wrap it in a cover n keep in a box.

Unknown said...

Thanks for d reply chitra.
Tried making it came out well.
The first few balls came our well.
Then later d dough started to become hard.
As per your advice added a little milk n completed it.
Thanks

Chitra said...

Thanks for your prompt feedback.Glad to know it :)