Skip to main content

Thenga Mittai/ Easy Coconut Burfi- Diwali Sweet

 


Thenga Mittai/ Easy Coconut Burfi- Diwali Sweet 

The festive season is already here. Diwali festival, the festival of lights, is one of my favorite times of the year. How is the Diwali planning coming along for everyone? It is exactly a week for Diwali, and I am here to share some easy to make Diwali sweets. 


Tengai mittai is a traditional sweet made on festive occasions and is pure coconut indulgence. It reminds me of the tiny coconut candy squares that you find in small street shops in Kerala. It invokes the childhood nostalgia of sweet treats that you buy on your way to school, with the meager pocket money that you have. Well, now you can make them at home! To make this mittai/ burfi, all you need is freshly grated coconut, sugar, and some milk, preferably coconut milk. It is simple and unassuming, sweet but tastes divine.

Mittais are bite-sized Indian confectioneries made with milk, nuts, or coconut. If you love coconuts, you will find this mittai/burfi an absolute treat. Born and brought up in Kerala, where there is a sheer abundance of coconut trees, it has become an integral part of our diet. Desserts with coconut have a unique appeal to it, delightful bite with nuttiness and a sweet milky taste. This South Indian mittai has a soft and fudge-like texture but not the gooey kind. As it cools down, it will hold shape, and you can slice it into desired shapes. Now for the flavoring, it is gently laced with the flavor of cardamom and ghee. You can add nuts, dry fruits, and experiment with different flavors. The green hue for this mittai is from pandan extract, and the flavor goes well with coconut. I have also tried rose, and pineapple flavor to make tengai mittai. So go ahead and experiment with flavors you love. Try this deliciously sweet, you will surely love it. Happy Cooking!

 


When using coconut for this recipe, use freshly grated coconut. The fresh coconut adds a creamy richness from coconut milk. But if it is not available, then you can use frozen or desiccated versions of the coconut.

 It would be a good idea, to lightly toast grated coconut, before adding to the sugar syrup. It will enhance flavor and give a slight crunch and texture. Traditionally for burfi, milk, and milk solid/khoya is used. You can use coconut milk or regular milk or add khoya for a rich, fudgy texture.


 

Thenga Mittai/ Easy Coconut Burfi

Ingredients
Grated coconut- 2 cup
Coconut Milk- 1/4 cup
Water -1/2 cup
Sugar- 1 1/2 cup
Pandan extract - a few drops (optional)
Ghee- 3 tbs
Cardamon- 1/2 tsp
Cashew nuts chopped- 1 tbs

Heat ghee in a heavy bottom pan and lightly roast the coconut. Cook in a very low flame and do not allow the coconut to change color. You may also run the grated coconut a couple of times in your mixer/ blender or food processor to make it into a coarse powder form. This step is optional.


In a heavy bottom, pan adds sugar and water and simmer till all sugar dissolves, and the consistency thickens (two string consistency). Add the coconut and coconut milk and stir continuously to avoid sticking to the bottom of the pan. Add half of the ghee and cook the mixture till it becomes thick and leaves the edges of the pan. Add the cardamom powder, and pandan extract (optional), and the rest of the ghee. You can also add toasted nuts this at this stage. Stir for two more minutes and remove from the stove. Grease a plate with ghee and transfer the contents into the plate. Flatten and smooth it with the back of a spoon and let it sit for 4-5 hours. Cut into the desired shape and serve.

Note: To check for 2-string consistency, put a couple of drops of the sugar syrup on a plate, and allow to cool a bit. When it is still warm press the syrup between your index finger and thumb.  Lift your thumb away from your finger, and the syrup will form threads. If two threads form and break, the syrup is at the right consistency.


 

You might also like,

Milk peda Sweet- Indian Milk Fudge
Mawa/ Milk Powder Burfi
Rose Cham Cham - Bengali Sweet
Pineapple Halwa- Kerala Sweet
Gulab Jamun

Try it,

Hope you will all enjoy!


Comments

  1. They look so adorable! I simply love the beautiful green colour.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Adipoli madam love that green color.

    ReplyDelete
  3. thengai mittai are my favorite too... never made this... yours look absolutely delicious... bookmarking it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Suja, Great share for diwali , I love coconut burfi , these looks so delicious , and that color is so tempting. You've very well explained it too . I'm glad to connect with you , all your recipes are mouth watering , thanks you so much sharing this recipe!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by and for the sweet comment :)

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

12 Best Traditional Kerala Snacks - Tea Time Snacks

 12 Best Traditional Kerala Snacks - Tea Time Snacks  Are you looking for some light bites to indulge during tea time? Well, you have come to the right place. Kerala cuisine has an exhaustive list of traditional tea-time snacks.  The list of ingredients is available in your pantry, making it possible to make these delicious snacks. Many of these snacks, can be quickly whipped up with rice flour, coconut, and jaggery. I am sharing a list of snack recommendations from Kerala that are easy to cook at home. These sweet and savory snacks are heartwarming and will make you nostalgic. It is by no means is a complete list. I am sharing some of the top picks of this blog in one space for easy reference. If you like to try, more recipes check my earlier post on 10 Quick and Easy Kerala Snacks/ Tea time snacks that you can make in under 20 minutes . Do you have any favorite snack that is simple and easy to make? I would love to hear about your favorite traditional snacks. Please share your idea

10 Quick and Easy Kerala Snacks/ Tea time snacks

Do you often look for snack ideas? I like to try new snack recipes. Freshly homemade, tea time snacks appeals to all ages. There are comfort and joy in munching a delicious sweet or savory deep-fried snack with hot piping tea. Some recipes make you nostalgic, and we keep coming back to it time and again. Kerala has an exhaustive list of traditional tea-time snacks. You never get tired of eating them! So here is a list of family favorites. Today I am sharing a collection of 10 easy to make snacks that you can make under 20 minutes . Do you have any favorite snack that is simple and easy to make? Please share your ideas, leave me a comment below Want to try more Kerala snacks, check my post 12 Best Traditional Kerala Snacks - Tea Time Snacks  Pazham Pori- Crispy Fried Sweet Plantain Pazham pori is a quick and easy tea time snack. It is made with ripe sweet plantains dipped in a batter and then deep-fried in coconut oil to crispy golden. Ingredients Ripe plantains - 3 medium Maida-1 1/

Uzhunnu Vada/Urad Dal Vada

Uzhunnu Vada/Urad Dal Vada Uzhunnu vada or medu vada is a very common snack in south India and is a perfect accompaniment with a cup of hot piping tea.I like it as a snack but again cannot resist when it is served with idli,sambar and chutney as breakfast. One might wonder where does all the aroma come from? The  plain deep fried lentils is by itself flavorful because I make them often for  vada curry. But in uzhunnu vada the addition of pearl onions,ginger and curry leaves imparts a wonderful aroma that is irresistible.This is something I really missed when I came here to the US until I started making my home made version. Try this you will surely love it. Ingredients Urad Dal/Black lentil skinless- 1 cup Rice flour- 2 tsp Pearl Onions- 4-5 Ginger finely chopped- 1 inch thick Curry leaves finely chopped- 1 spring Green chilly  finely chopped- 3 Whole black pepper- 5-6 salt to taste Oil- 2 cup to fry Wash and soak urad dal and rice for about 4-5 hours. Drain