Burfi Food

CHOCOLATE BURFI

Steps:

• Lightly grease only the sides of an 8-by-8-inch pan with ghee. Line pan with parchment paper so the paper hangs over two opposite sides of the pan. Mix together cocoa powder and sugar, and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, mix together condensed milk and milk powder and add the ghee, to make khoya. Transfer pan to stovetop, add rose water and stir thoroughly with a wooden spoon to combine. Stirring constantly, cook the mixture on low heat (to avoid scorching) until it has a thick batter-like consistency, about 5 minutes. It will be quite stiff at first, but will become easier to stir as it heats.
• Pour half the khoya into a medium, microwave-safe bowl and add the cocoa mixture, mixing until thoroughly incorporated. Set aside.
• Pour the remainder of the khoya in the prepared pan and spread in an even layer. Let cool and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Reheat the reserved chocolate khoya in the microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring in between, until the consistency becomes spreadable again. (Alternatively, return the chocolate khoya to the stovetop and cook on low heat until mixture is hot throughout, stirring constantly, until the consistency becomes spreadable again.) Immediately pour the chocolate khoya on top of the white khoya, spreading it evenly to create two separate layers. Let the entire burfi cool and then refrigerate. Cut into small squares and serve at room temperature. The burfi can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

BARFI

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides.
• Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add ricotta and stir with a rubber spatula until butter and ricotta are incorporated. Add milk powder and sugar; mix well to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring often, until mixture is very thick and begins to form a dough that moves together in a single mass when stirred, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in cardamom and pistachios. Transfer mixture to prepared dish and pat into an even 3/4-inch thickness (you will only use about 60 percent of dish's surface area). Let cool to room temperature. Lift barfi from pan using parchment; cut into diamonds. Garnish with gold leaf, if desired, and more pistachios. Barfi can be stored, covered, in refrigerator up to 1 week.

ALMOND BURFI

Steps:

• 1/4 cup sliced or slivered almonds, chopped finer
• In a heavy 4 quart pot, combine the sugar and water and boil together until candy thermometer registers 225 degrees F and a small amount of the syrup forms a thin thread between the thumb and forefinger when carefully sampled from the stirrer.
• Reduce heat to medium and stir in the almond paste with 1/4 cup Ghee. Stir in the rest of the Ghee in 1/4 cup increments until all of it has been absorbed. Keep stirring over medium to medium-low heat; the mixture will become a single mass and will roll around in the pan. If the mixture begins to brown, lower the heat. Continue stirring until the mixture becomes porous and starts to appear drier -- this can take up to 10 minutes.
• Spread the mixture in an ungreased 9-inch square baking pan and press into 1/2 inch thickness. Immediately sprinkle with the almonds, gently pressing them into the surface. While still warm, cut into 36 squares or diamond shapes.
• Serve at room temperature.
• In a heavy skillet, over medium to medium-low heat, heat the butter until it is completely melted. Watch as the butter boils, first with large bubbles and white milk solids floating on the surface, then with only a fine white foam filling the entire surface. Stir occasionally.
• Soon, small patches of golden brown will appear on the surface, and the overall color of the butter will change from yellow to golden. Push aside the foam periodically to check the color of the sediment. When the sediment turns light brown, remove from the heat. (see note)
• Decant into a jar with a tight lid. Warm, if desired, for serving over rice.

RICOTTA CHEESE BURFI

Steps:

• Melt butter in a deep pan.
• Add ricotta cheese, stirring until smooth, for about 2-3 minutes.
• Add condensed milk.
• Turn heat to LOW, heat the entire mixture for 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add almonds and/or pistachios. (I added some coconut chopped super-fine with pistachios).
• EITHER: pour mixture into a square pan, let set in fridge for 4 hours, cut into squares.
• OR: Let cool in fridge, serve ice-cream sized scoop, garnished with whole pistachio or almond.

BANANA BURFI

Steps:

• Peel and cut the bananas into small pieces.
• Mix with sugar and keep aside for 1–2 hours.
• Warm the butter in a skillet on medium heat.
• Add banana-sugar mixture and stir until all the moisture evaporates.
• Mash the bananas as you stir.
• Add the non-fat dry milk.
• It should be solid enough to set when spread on a cookie sheet.
• Add more dry milk as needed.
• Stir in the seasonings and spread on a greased cookie sheet, about one-fourth inch thick.
• Garnish with the nuts and coconut.
• Let it rest for 1–2 hours; cut into diamond shape or square pieces and store in the refrigerator.