You guys. I tried making jalebis today and it turns out, jalebis are not kind on the ego. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong and maybe I’ll give it a few more Diwalis before attempting it again! Safe to say, jalebis and I are not becoming friends any time soon. But these two-ingredient, 20-minute, stupendously delicious burfees are all I need for the festive feels without popping a vein in the process. Desserts should be stress-free, right? Right.

These burfees incidentally, are the second version I tried. The first version had ghee and milk and took a lot longer to come together and in fact remained more like the filling inside these modaks than firm, chewy burfees. Delicious but not what I was going for. Then I saw this Divine Taste recipe which had literally two ingredients, if you don’t count cardamom and it seemed so obvious why. Jaggery oozes its own moisture and coconut releases its own oils, which means technically, the mixture needs nothing more to come together. About 20 minutes of stirring and mild bicep workouts later, the mixture was patted down into a plate, chilled for an hour and cut.

I was worried at how straightforward it seemed, but the burfees turned out just the way I wanted. Chewy, slightly crunchy from bits of coconut that crisp up while cooking and firm enough that they hold their shape. The jaggery is the superstar here in all its molasses-y glory and we all know coconut is awesome.

Because there are so quick and so fuss-free, they are exactly what you need in some sort of festive food emergency, or honestly, on any old day. The coconut can be fresh or frozen as long as its finely shredded and I recommend powdered jaggery to make your life easier. Feel free to work your favourite nuts into the mixture, or just sprinkle them on top or leave them out entirely.

I wasn’t intent on creating a healthier Diwali sweet, but if you can reduce guilt, stress and time without any flavour setbacks, I don’t think there’s anything to oppose here 🙂

I hope you all have a fabulous Diwali and that you come back next week to break bread! Eat lots, play safe and be kind to the animals!

Coconut Jaggery Burfee

Two-ingredient, super quick, healthy burfee that's perfect for an impromptu festive treat this Diwali!

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 30

Makes: 15 pieces

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Ingredients

2 cups shredded coconut (thaw if frozen)
3/4 cup powdered jaggery
4 green cardamom pods, peeled and powdered

Instructions

In a sturdy aluminium wok, combine the coconut and jaggery. On low heat, stir the two together till the jaggery melts and the mixture begins to look cohesive. There will be some oil and moisture that's released.
Stir frequently until the mixture starts to clump together and looks drier than it did in the beginning. Take care not to let the coconut burn, though a few crispy bits add a lot of flavour. I recommend cooking the mixture for at least 20 minutes to a maximum of 25 if it's taking longer to clump.
Lightly grease a 6" rimmed metal plate with oil or ghee, and spread the hot mixture out on to it. Let it cool for a few minutes, then use your fingertips to pack it tightly onto the plate. Press flaked almonds in at this stage if you like.
Allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes, then cover with foil and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Cut into squares and serve. That's it!