VARO (Sindhi Pista Badam Chikki - Diwali Special)

Varo is a very rich and healthy sweet and is eaten a lot in winters. It is chikki made with sliced almonds and pistachios and is flavoured with powdered cardamoms and saffron.
It is customary among Sindhis to send this to married daughters along with the other goodies during Diwali.Varo is specially made also for pregnant women as it is loaded with dry fruits.

Ingredients:
Almonds (unsalted) .... 1/2 cup (chopped)
Pistachios (unsalted).... 1/2 cup chopped
Sugar .......................... 1 cup
Green cardamoms ...... 6-7 ( Crushed - use only seeds)Saffron ...................... a pinch
Wheat flour ................ 1 tsp.
Poppy seeds ............... 1 tsp.
Ghee .......................... 2 tsps.

Method:

1.Heat 1 tsp. ghee in a small pan and fry the wheat flour on a low flame for half a minute.(till the aroma comes) Set aside.

2.In a thick bottomed pan put the sugar and keep stirring on low flame until it melts, avoiding lump formation.(do not make it dark brown
)

3.At this stage add the poppy seeds, crushed cardamom seed and saffron

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4. Also add the prepared wheat flour,half a tsp. ghee and the nuts and mix very fast.Turn off the gas and keep mixing till it becomes lumpy.(to a rolling consistency)

5. Spread it on a greased surface and roll it with a greased rolling pin.(you have to do the rolling very fast.

6.Cool it and cut into pieces.(to break evenly, mark with the knife lightly after rolling and break after it is cooled)

Check out the recipe video