Tilkut
Veg
Vegan
GI-tagged sesame-jaggery sweet from Gaya — white sesame seeds pounded with jaggery in stone mortars until they form a smooth, dense fudge-like confection, shaped into rounds or cylinders. The iconic sweet of Makar Sankranti in Bihar, made by hereditary sweetmakers in Gaya.
Cuisines
Malwi
Bihari
Best for
Snacks
Recipe
Prep: 10 min
Cook: 20 min
Total: 30 min
2-3 servings
Ingredients
| 1 cup | white sesame seeds |
| 1 cup | jaggery |
| 1 tablespoon | ghee |
| 1 teaspoon | cardamom powder |
| 1 tablespoon | water |
Instructions
- 1 Dry roast the sesame seeds in a pan over medium heat until they turn golden brown and start to pop. Set aside to cool.
- 2 In the same pan, add ghee and jaggery. Melt the jaggery on low heat, stirring continuously until it forms a smooth syrup.
- 3 Add water and cardamom powder to the jaggery syrup and mix well.
- 4 Once the syrup is ready, add the roasted sesame seeds to it and mix quickly to combine.
- 5 Remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool slightly until it is safe to handle.
- 6 Grease your hands with a little ghee and take small portions of the mixture to shape them into small, flat discs or balls.
- 7 Allow the Tilkut to cool completely and harden before serving.
Tips
Ensure the jaggery syrup is not overcooked to avoid a hard texture. Test the syrup by dropping a small amount into cold water; it should form a soft ball.