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Tiler khaja
তিলের খাজা (tiler khaja): Kushtia's crunchy sticks of pulled sugar rolled in sesame
Kushtia, on the Gorai river in the west of Bangladesh, has been famous for tiler khaja since before Partition, and the long white sticks dusted with sesame are sold at every bus stop and train station in the district, wrapped in paper bags for the journey. The sugar is boiled to a hard syrup, then pulled and folded by hand, often over a hook on the wall, until it turns from clear amber to opaque white and fills with tiny air pockets, so the finished sticks are brittle, crunchy and light, almost honeycombed, with nutty toasted sesame on the outside. They are snacked on with tea and given to children as a treat. The trap is waiting too long to pull, as the sugar sets glass-hard; it should be just cool enough to touch. Chef's tip: wear clean, heatproof kitchen gloves rubbed with a little oil, as hot sugar burns badly.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 10
Ingredients
- 3 ½ oz white sesame seeds
- 10 ½ oz sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp vegetable oilfor greasing
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Toast 3 ½ oz white sesame seeds in a dry pan over a medium-low heat for 4–5 minutes, stirring, until pale golden; spread on a tray.
5 minStep 2: Grease a marble slab, heatproof worktop or large baking tray and a pair of scissors with 1 tbsp vegetable oil.
Step 3: Heat 10 ½ oz sugar, ½ cup water and 1 tsp lemon juice in a heavy pan over a medium heat, stirring only until the sugar dissolves, then boil without stirring for 12–15 minutes to 275°F on a sugar thermometer, when a drop in cold water turns hard but slightly bendy.
15 minStep 4: Pour the syrup onto the greased surface and leave for 2–3 minutes, folding the edges in with an oiled spatula, until cool enough to handle in gloves.
3 minStep 5: Pull the sugar into a rope, fold it back on itself and pull again, over and over for 5–6 minutes, until it turns opaque, white and satiny and starts to stiffen.
6 minStep 6: Quickly stretch it into a long rope about 1.5 cm thick, lay it on the sesame and roll to coat, pressing the seeds in.
3 minStep 7: Snip into 6 cm sticks with the oiled scissors before it hardens. Cool completely and store in an airtight jar.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 170 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 31 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tiler khaja take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 10 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of white sesame seeds?
- Poppy seeds or finely chopped pumpkin seeds, same amount.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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