CONDENSED MILK COCONUT BURFI

Burfi/Barfi is a dense milk based sweet from the Indian subcontinent. The name barfi was derived from the Persian word "barf" which means snow. The main ingredients are usually sugar and condensed milk which is cooked until the mixture solidifies. Burfi flavour is usually enhanced with fruits like coconut or mango; nuts like pistachios, peanuts or cashew nuts and spices like cardamom or rose water. The sweets are usually cut into round, diamond or square shapes and are mostly served in India all year round but mostly  consumed during religious festivals, wedding ceremonies or holiday season like Diwali. Barfis come in different varieties that include sing barfi made with peanuts, besan barfi made with gram flour, pista barfi made with pistachios and kaaju barfi made from cashews. I must confess I am a sweet tooth so I wanted to give Indian sweets a go. These yummy coconut bars are just the perfect treat for a midday snack or even for the kids back to school treat. Had such a fun time making these I will definitely be giving other barfi flavours a try!

INGREDIENTS

11/3 Cup Dessicated Coconut
1/2 Cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/2 Cup Full Fat Milk
1/4 Teaspoon Cardamom Powder
Handful Roasted Peanuts

METHOD

Pour the dessicated coconut in a heavy bottomed pan or skillet

Add in the sweetened condensed milk

Add in the full fat milk

Mix everything until well combined

Add cardamon powder

Break any lumps if any starts to form

Cook until the mixture starts to thicken as the liquids start to evaporate

After 3-5 minutes the mixture will form a mass. Mix well and take off the heat

Transfer mixture to greased baking tray. Grease your fingers with a little oil and press into it to form a flat surface. My baking tray was too big so I just formed a rectangle shape with a spatula. If I spread too far the burfi would have been too thin

Sprinkle with roasted groundnuts or any nuts you prefer

Slice lengthways

Slice across to form evenly shaped bars

Refrigerate up to one hour for the coconut burfi to set

You can always refrigerate first then slice to your desired size or even shape

Consume these sweet coconut burfi withing 3 days, though I don't think they will last that long!

CONDENSED MILK COCONUT BURFI

Recipe by Mulunga Alukwe

Prep time: 45 Minutes
Cook time: 00 Minutes
Total time: 45 Minutes
Yield: 2 Servings
Ingredients

• 11/3 Cup Desiccated Coconut
• 1/2 Cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1/2 Cup Full Fat Milk
• 1/4 Teaspoon Cardamon
• 3 Tablespoons Roasted Peanuts

Cooking Directions

1. Pour the dessicated coconut in a heavy bottomed pan or skillet. Add in the sweetened condensed milk, full fat milk and mix everything until evenly combined then add cardamom
2. Cook until the mixture starts to thicken as the liquids start to evaporate. After 3-5 minutes the mixture will form a mass. Mix well and take off the heat
3. Transfer mixture to greased baking tray. Grease your fingers with a little oil and press into it to form a flat surface. Sprinkle with roasted groundnuts or any nuts you prefer then slice into squares
4. Refrigerate for several hours before serving