Indian · serves 2

Coconut Sweets

Coconut and sugar cooked down, set in a tray, cut into cubes. Two ingredients.

25 min Easy Vegetarian No oven needed

Ingredients

  • 500g grated coconut
  • 350g sugar
  • 2 tbsp ghee
  • 1/2 cup milk powder or mawa
  • Desiccated coconut to finish

Method

  1. Heat the coconut and sugar together very gently until it comes together like a dough. Gently — high heat makes it grainy.
  2. Off the heat, stir in the milk powder and ghee.
  3. Into a buttered tray, flattened with the back of a spoon.
  4. Cool, cut into cubes, dust with desiccated coconut. A drop of colour in the mixture makes them pink.

Questions people ask about Coconut Sweets

How long does Coconut Sweets take?

About 25 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is straightforward. Most of that is active, so read the method through before you start rather than chopping as you go.

Can I make Coconut Sweets ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Coconut Sweets vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Can I make Coconut Sweets without an oven?

That is exactly what this recipe is for. It uses a pressure cooker, a pan or the fridge instead of an oven, and the method here is written for that, not adapted from a baked version.

What do you serve with Coconut Sweets?

Roti or plain rice, with something sharp on the side: curd, pickle or sliced onion. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

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