Dry Fruits Barfi: Janmashtami Prasad

Fast and healthy sweet treatment made of almonds, seeds and naturally dried fruits. These bite-sized treats do not require any extra sugar, which provides the perfect balance for taste, texture and festival spread or everyday breakfast. Make it as prasad for Janmashtami.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup cashew nuts  
• 1/4 cup nuts  
• 1/4 cup pistachio  
• 1/2 cup of pitted dates (about 10 pieces)  
• 5 dried figs, chopped  
• 2 tablespoons raisins  
• 2 tablespoons coconut  
• 1 teaspoon poppy seeds   
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds   
• 2 green cardamom pods, seeds crushed  
• 1 teaspoon ghee or coconut oil 

Method: 

1. Roast Nuts and Seeds:  
1. Heat a heavy bottom pan on the medium flame.  
2. Dry roast all nuts and seeds until aromatic and slightly golden. Remove and set aside.  
3. In the same pan, toast poppy and sesame seeds for a minute. 
2. Preparing Dried Fruits:  
1. Take a pan, add chopped dates, figs and raisins. Heat it in slow flame.  
2. Stir for 1-2 minutes to soften and release moisture. Close the heat and let it cool a little.
3. Mix the Base: 
1.  In a food processor or blender, combine dates, figs, raisins, coconut and crushed cardamom.  
2. Then pulse in a coarse, sticky mixture .
4.  Include Nuts and Seeds:
1. Transfer the mixed fruit mixture to the mixing bowl.  
2. Now, add roasted nuts and seeds. Mix everything together well. Add some ghee if required.  
3. Set it in a grease tray. Cool a little and cut into your desired shape.
5. Finish and Serve: 
1. Coat the barfi pieces in a desiccated coconut or finely chopped pistachio . 

Tips and Tricks:

• Use Medjool dates for extra stickiness without added sugar.  
• Pulse in a short motions .  
• If the mixture is dry, add a spoon of hot ghee  to bind .  

 Storage:

Store in an airtight container for 5 days at room temperature or refrigerator for 2 weeks. Before serving , let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.