
Anjeer pak
Fig and nut fudge
અંજીર પાક: dried figs cooked in ghee with nuts, rolled and sliced, with no added sugar
Gujarati families make anjeer pak for Diwali boxes and for fast days, when it gives quick energy without any grain or refined sugar. Soaked dried figs are cooked down in ghee into a thick jammy paste, mixed with toasted almonds, cashews and pistachios, and rolled into logs that slice into pretty pink-and-green rounds. It keeps for two weeks in the fridge. The common mistake is under-cooking the fig paste, which leaves the logs soft and sticky so they never slice cleanly. Chef's tip: keep stirring until the paste rolls into a ball that no longer sticks to the pan or your greased palm.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Serves
- 12
- Per serving
- 120 kcal
Ingredients
For the pak
- 9 oz dried figs (anjeer)stems removed, soaked 1 hour in warm water
- 2 tbsp ghee
- 1 ⅜ oz almondschopped
- 1 ⅜ oz cashewschopped
- 1 oz pistachioschopped
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tbsp poppy seeds (optional)for rolling
Tick what you have; the rest goes in the basket.
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Drain 9 oz dried figs (anjeer), keeping 3 tbsp of the soaking water, and blend to a coarse paste with that water.
4 minStep 2: Toast 1 ⅜ oz almonds, 1 ⅜ oz cashews and 1 oz pistachios in 1 tsp of the 2 tbsp ghee on low heat for 3 minutes until fragrant. Set aside.
3 minStep 3: Heat the rest of the ghee, add the fig paste and cook on low heat, stirring, for 10–12 minutes until it turns glossy, darker and gathers into one ball.
12 minStep 4: Stir in the nuts and ½ tsp ground cardamom, take off the heat and cool until you can handle it.
5 minStep 5: Grease your palms, shape into 2 logs 4 cm thick and roll in 1 tbsp poppy seeds. Wrap and chill for 1 hour, then slice 1 cm thick.
6 min
KrazyBadal
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to cook it.
Rate this recipe
Sign in to rate and review this recipe.
You might also like
Chana masala
A North Indian staple that comes together from the store cupboard. Toasted cumin, slow-softened onion and a good spoonful of garam masala give tinned chickpeas real depth. Serve with rice, naan or a stack of warm rotis.
Kaju curryCashew curry
Walk along any wedding buffet in Pune, Mumbai or Ahmedabad and there is usually a chafing dish of kaju curry near the paneer, with guests going back for seconds. Whole cashews are fried in ghee until golden, which makes them crunchy outside and buttery inside, then folded into a rich onion and tomato gravy thickened with more cashews, finished with cream and kasuri methi. The gravy is orange, smooth and rounded with a touch of sweetness; it should taste of roasted nuts and gentle spice, not fire. Gujarati restaurants often serve a spicier Kathiyawadi version, but the wedding style here is the mild one. Eat it with butter naan, tandoori roti or jeera rice. Common mistake: adding the fried cashews too early; they soak up the gravy and turn soft, so fold them in just before serving. Chef's tip: keep a few fried cashews back and scatter them on top at the table so every spoonful has some crunch.
Bagara bainganBaby aubergines in peanut sesame sauce
Bagara baingan is a Hyderabadi wedding dish of small aubergines cooked whole in a dark, tangy gravy of roasted peanuts, sesame, dried coconut and tamarind. Unlike a Gujarati stuffed brinjal, the aubergines here are only quartered at the base and fried until silky, then left to soak up a thin-but-rich sauce that is finished with a tempering, the 'baghar' that gives the dish its name. It's sour, nutty and gently spiced, and is served with biryani, bagara rice or plain rice. Chef's tip: choose small, glossy purple aubergines that feel heavy for their size; soft, light ones are full of seeds and turn mushy before the gravy has a chance to cling.
Perfect for:Navratri & Durga Puja



