Step by Step of making Varo
Before you start make sure you have a greased rolling board, greased knife and a bottom of a cup ready for spreading the varo flat.
Slice all the dry fruits, keep them ready along with the poppy seeds, dried copra and sugar
Melt sugar in a thick bottom pan, remove impurities if you find and continue cooking
After few minutes add the Clarified butter or ghee to the pan
Let it melt.
When the sugar water starts boiling, keep stirring with a ladle.
Continue stirring and you will see the syrup getting thicker
After about 5 minutes or so, you will find the syrup turning colour into lovely golden hue
Wait exactly for a minute and add all the chopped dry fruits, along with poppy seeds, copra to the pan. Quickly combine everything together so that the nuts are coated well. Make sure you don't cook this for long. Should be about 1 -2 minutes and not more. Else the nuts will get burnt.
Prior to start cooking this, have the rolling board greased with oil/ghee. You can use a thali or plate too
Immediately pour the mix on to the board and quickly spread the mix to plain using a greased bottom of the cup.You can also make marks on the top when you find it is cooled a bit
When it is completely cooled, they easily break into pieces.
Varo – Sindhi Sweet Treat (Diwali Special)
Source : Simply Sindhi Recipes
Ingredients:
Mixed Nuts like Almonds, Pistachios, Cashew nuts,Walnuts - 1 Cup
Sliced Dry Coconut / Copra - roughly 5-6 small slices
Poppy Seeds / Khus Khus - 2 tsp
Sugar - 1 Cup
Ghee Clarified Butter - 2 tsp
Method:
Slice all mixed nuts.Copra, and Poppy seeds together.
In a heavy bottomed pan, add ghee and sugar. On low heat melt the sugar.
When the sugar is melted and caramelized to a light brown color add the sliced mixed nuts, Khus Khus,. Mix till nuts are coated well with the caramelized sugar.
Pour this mixture onto the back of a thali/ greased plate or on a rolling board.
Using the back side (flat side) of a cup, flatten the mixture like a thick chapatti or disc. You can use a rolling pin to roll the mixture. This has to be done very quickly as the mixture begins to harden as soon as it is removed from heat.
When it becomes little cool, make square marks on top with a greased knife.
Leave the rolled Varo to set for some time.
Break into pieces and store in air tight containers.
Recipe 2
Varo ~ Indian pistachio praline with cardamom
Source : Madhvi's Foolproof Recipes
Ingredients
Sugar - 125 gms (½ cup)
Pistachios, coarsely chopped - 75 gms (½ cup)
Cardamom powder - ½ tsp
White Poppy seeds - 2 tbsp
Vegetable oil - 2 tbsp
Method
Prepare the surface on which you plan to roll out by spreading the oil. Sprinkle half of the poppy seeds evenly on the Oil. Keep a knife and rolling pin ready.
Heat the sugar in a heavy bottom pan over a medium heat until it becomes caramelized – (it will become liquid and start to turn a golden brown - this takes about 5 minutes), then take the pan off the heat immediately and quickly stir the pistachio nuts and cardamom into it.
Pour the caramel and pistachio mixture onto the oiled surface and quickly roll it all out until it is about 3mms thick (while it is still warm), and spread the remaining poppy seeds on top. Then use a knife to cut it into pieces – hammer the rolling pin onto the knife to help cut the praline into 2 inch squares.
I must say this was one of those rare dishes that got approval from Hubby dear right on the moment he tasted it. And he continued to praise it every time he eat it. I must thank Alka for suggesting this wonderful sweet and Avisha & Madhvi for sharing their regional special with us
To all my ICC members, please link your Varo post to Mr. Linky.
PJ says
Hi Srivalli,just linked mine to the post.Yours looks delish!!
I enjoyed making this sweet.Lil Angel and hubby loved it.Thanks for choosing this and looking forward to the next one 🙂
lata raja says
Missed again:( But am determined to make it the first thing when all is settled. Looking thro' members' sires makes me drool.
veena krishnakumar says
Hi srivalli
that was a easy and lovely challenge. Thank you for the recipes. Loved making this. Lokking forward to the next one
simply.food says
Lovely fast and easy recipe that turned out perfect.Lovely choice.
Your praline looks mouthwateringly delicious.
PriyaVaasu says
Easy to make and a healthy chikki valli!! but mine didnt turn out as golden as mentioned!!!!
Dont know what went wrong!!!
i have posted it, have a look and tell me!!!!
myspicykitchen says
Just posted mine. Will check back again to link it to Mr.Linky. The recipe was simple to prepare but had some difficulty breaking the varo.
nivedita says
Hi Valli!
Atlast! I got it. I can post the comment now 🙂
And photos are very helpful for new learner.
Thanks. Waiting for the next challenge.
Smitha says
It was easy and fast to make...equally fast they disappeared!...chikkis are a hit!
rekhas kitchen says
Hi Valli,
Thanks for adding me again in the challenge just linked mine.delicious recipe we both enjoyed it a lot.
Nutan says
I posted my link. It was a very good challenge. Enjoyed making and eating it!
Pavani says
Awesome challenge Valli. Loved it.. Waiting for next month's Challenge.
jayasree says
Enjoyed making...Quite easy to make only thing is you shld get the caramelization right...
Minu says
Thank You Valli. I enjoyed making this sweet. It was a hit!!!
monikamanchanda says
I so wanted to make this one but missed it again 🙁
Srivalli says
Thank you friends for the lovely comments..
simply.food says
Thankyou Srivalli for dropping by my blog .Your visit and comments are very much appreciated. I certainly hope you will return again soon.
Having been participating in ICC for last 6 months this was one Challenge I particularly enjoyed.Thanks for posting it.Awaiting eagerly for the next challenge to be posted.I hope its something savory.
leena says
thank u
sindhi khaana says
love your blog. 🙂