Badam Peda(Almond peda)

Like I mentioned I was really busy with all the preparations for Ganesha festival.  Since I was busy with the sweets and goodie making and since it’s a post after a long gap thought why not put up a post of a sweet.  Lord Ganesha loves sweets and hence a whole lot of sweets are prepared during this time.  One of the famous being the modaks.  Which will be coming up as the next post soon.  So without further ado here goes the recipe of an easy peda which can be made in a jiffy.

INGREDIENTS:

Khoya (reduced milk mass)	1 cup /150 gms
Almond (badam)	1/8 cup (blanched and chopped into small pieces)
Sugar	1/4 cup
Mace powder	1/4 tsp
Cardamom powder	1/4 tsp
Almonds	To garnish
Saffron strands	A few

METHOD:

1.       Blanch the almonds and chop them into small pieces.  Keep just a few aside to garnish.

2.       In a non-stick kadai add the khoya and powdered sugar and keep it on low flame, stirring all the time.

3.       Keep stirring this all the while till the khoya and sugar mixture starts the leave the pan.  This should take approximately 5-10 minutes.

4.       Remove from flame.  Divide the mixture into 1/3 and 2/3 parts.  To the 1/3 part and chopped almond pieces, mix well and make small balls out of it.
5.       In the other 2/3 mixture add saffron, mace and cardamom powder.  Mix well.  Make little bigger balls than the almond mixed balls.

6.       Flatten the saffron mixed balls and fill them with the almond balls and shape them round and flatten a little or give them the shape you desire.       

7.       Garnish with slivered almonds and serve.
NOTES:
1.       I got eleven pedas, with this measurement.
2.       As an alternative you could use pistachios instead of almonds.
3.       This should be done only on low flame.