Santra Barfi

Santra Barfi

Santra Barfi

Veg

Nagpur orange fudge — the signature sweet of Nagpur: fresh Nagpur santra (mandarin orange) juice reduced slowly with sugar until it reaches a thick, fragrant concentrate, then mixed into a base of khoya (reduced milk solids) with cardamom and a few drops of orange food colour, set in a greased tray, and cut into small diamond or square pieces when set. The fresh orange's essential oil aroma — released during the slow reduction — infuses the entire fudge with a natural citrus fragrance that no artificial orange flavouring can replicate; the orange juice's natural pectin helps the fudge set. The most famous souvenir sweet from Nagpur; Nagpur orange barfi shops near the railway station are legendary. The barfi must be made with freshly squeezed local santra — imported mandarin juice produces a completely different, inferior result.

Cuisines

Vidarbha

Best for

Snacks

Recipe

Prep: 15 min Cook: 30 min Total: 45 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

4 oranges
1 cup khoya (mawa)
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon ghee
1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
1 tablespoon chopped almonds
1 tablespoon chopped pistachios

Instructions

  1. 1 Peel the oranges and remove all the white pith. Separate the segments and remove seeds, if any.
  2. 2 Blend the orange segments into a smooth puree and set aside.
  3. 3 Heat ghee in a non-stick pan over medium heat.
  4. 4 Add the khoya to the pan and cook until it turns light golden brown, stirring continuously.
  5. 5 Add the orange puree to the cooked khoya and mix well.
  6. 6 Cook the mixture on low heat until it thickens and starts leaving the sides of the pan.
  7. 7 Add sugar and cardamom powder to the mixture, stirring continuously until the sugar dissolves completely.
  8. 8 Continue to cook until the mixture thickens again and leaves the sides of the pan.
  9. 9 Grease a plate with a little ghee and pour the mixture onto it, spreading it evenly.
  10. 10 Garnish with chopped almonds and pistachios, pressing them lightly into the mixture.
  11. 11 Allow the mixture to cool and set for about 1 hour.
  12. 12 Cut into desired shapes and serve.

Tips

Ensure the orange puree is smooth to avoid any fibrous texture in the barfi.