Peanut Brittle (Gachak)

Roasted peanuts in melted gur (jaggery, unrefined sugar made from sugar cane in India) with hint of fennel seeds, emmm so nostalgic. Growing up in India, in winters time, gachak was everywhere on street shops, especially loved the ones sold by moongfali walas ( person who sells roasted monkey nut).

This is the first time I have tried to make it at home, turned out well, although needed quiet a bit of stirring, my arm started to hurt, I don’t have strong arms lol.

I am so glad I made these, makes me so happy and accomplished in a way, although it’s not a very difficult recipe even then it has many technical this which needs to be right for a perfect brittle. Like if the peanuts are roasted right, gur mix is cooked right and then spreading. But all worth it in the end, end product is so delicious and satisfying.

Ingredients:

• 200g skinless peanuts
• 2 cups of gur/jaggery/brown sugar
• 1 tbsp fennel seeds
• 3-4 tbsp of water
• A thick bottom pan
• Greaseproof paper

Method:

• If peanuts aren’t roasted, dry roast them on a pan on low heat until they start leave aroma, stirring constantly
• Let peanuts cool
• Lightly crush fennel seeds
• If you are using gur, either grate or make small pieces of it so that it melts quicker
• Put peanuts in between a kitchen towel and crush them with rolling pin
• Make two pieces of grease proof paper ready
• Now heat up a pan add water, gur/sugar and keep stirring, mix will turn liquidy keep stirring until it thickens a little, takes about 10-12 mins constant stirring
• Take a glass of water, put a little gur mix if it solidifies that means mix is ready if not that’s keep stirring
• Once the mix is ready, add peanuts and fennel seeds mix well
• You need act fast because it sets so quick
• Pour the mix over greaseproof paper and spread with spoon
• Lay other price of paper and roll with rolling pin until you get the required thickness
• Cut it in pieces and let it cool completely
• Enjoy !