Cardamom and saffron scented fritters, tender on the inside, a slight crunch on the outside - this recipe has passed down through my family for generations and it warms my heart to see it become part of yours.
I once read that the essence of a culture is in the words that cannot be translated. Explained yes, but not directly translated.
The example given by the author was of Urdu word "takalluf". "Takalluf" is that polite first and often second time refusal of an offer that stems from good manners. Someone asks for tea and you politely refuse the first time, perhaps even the second even as your eyes are practically glued shut from exhaustion.
"Khasta" is such a word for me - the perfect "Meethi Tikiyaan" (sweet fritters) should be "khasta". The way to best explain it seems to be that the exterior of the tiki should have the sturdy flakiness of a sweet pie dough while it's centre should have the lavish butteriness of a rich cake.
Recipe Origins
There are many recipes for meethi tikiyaan out there, some with shredded coconut folded in, most with a handful of semolina.
The version I am sharing is the one taught to me by my youngest aunt, our resident tikiyaan maker extraordinaire. It is one she learnt from her aunt who learnt it from her mother, and so on.
Tikiyaan makers will see one big difference between this recipe and all others.
This recipe omits the semolina (sooji) since it draws in moisture. Some of you have added some to it for that familiar texture, but have also reported that adding it has meant adding more warm milk.
Meethi Tikiyaan and "Niaz"
Meethi Tikiyaan are a staple at the Rajab Kundon ki Niaz. The Niaz is an open house style meal that is hosted with the hope of receiving blessings in an auspicious month. My last Rajab in Karachi I went over to my Aunts one night to learn how to make her trademark tikis and immediately learnt two things. One, that my meethi tikiyaan would never be as good as hers with her years of know how and two, that tikiyan are an art not science.
Meethi Tikiyaan Troubleshooting & Tips:
After almost 20 years of making these throughout a variety of seasons and in different countries I have learnt the must know tweaks for tikiyaan perfection.
- If you are making the meethi tikiyaan on a very hot day
- Please don't add the milk in the first round of kneading. The inclusion of ghee in the recipe will keep the dough soft enough when it melds after resting.
- Refrigerate any dough that you are not using so that it stays workable.
- If you are making tikiyaan in a colder dryer climate
* You may need to add ½ tbsp of milk early on in the process.
* If the tikiyaan are 'dry' enough to touch then for that first batch you may not even need extra flour to roll them out - The dough will be firm, but do not overwork it. Bring it together, let it rest, give it a quick knead.
- Use freshly pounded cardamom seeds NOT powder
- The brand of ghee you use will impact the taste, go with one you really like!
- Temperature of ghee/oil is super important. When it is right the tikiyaan will initially fall to the bottom and slowly cook through a rise to the bottom. If the temperature isn't right some of them may break (still tasty)
- Sugar - I get a lot of questions about which sugar to use. In Pakistan we grind the sugar a little because the granules are very thick, in Canada I do not. I have made these with half sugar in the raw and half regular and they're delicious, but a little more rustic looking.
- Help! My Tikiyaan are Breaking! Deep breath. You sure the ghee is at the right temperature? If so then take a good look at your dough. Is it crumbly/dry? add a warm spoonful of milk, knead. Too soft? add a heaped spoonful of flour, knead. Fry on 🙂
- Too hard: If your tikiyaan were the right texture when you made them but are getting too hard then store them with a slice of bread. This is a tip I got from one of my readers who tried it out and it works!
A little heart to heart
Now that we have all that out of the way can I tell you something? I have made these quite a few times now and they are never ever exactly the same from one to the next and that is absolutely fine. They are always delicious but in Urdu as we say "unees-bees ka faraq hai".
When you make them the first time write down what you liked, what you didn't like and make it your own! It makes my heart sing when I see the different adaptations of these that people have been sharing with me. Cardamom-nutmeg, coconut, semolina - so many exciting twists on this classic Meethi Tikiyan! Keep them coming folks!
What goes with Meethi Tikiyaan?
One word: Kheer.
Three options:
All three recipes are simplified, accessible, and dare I say, extremely delicious?
Made this recipe? Rate it below (the stars on the printable!) and tag me in your creations on instagram. Are you a visual learner? Check out my instagram story highlights (I am @flourandspiceblog) to see photos/videos!
Meethi Tikiyaan
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup + 2 tbsp flour
- ¾ cup + 1 tbsp sugar add more if you have prefer
- ¼ t salt
- a scant ½ tsp baking powder, closer to ⅓ of a tsp
- ½ cup + 1 tbsp whipping cream
- ¾ tbsp ghee clarified butter
- 1 heaped teaspoon saffron threads
- 1 tsp ground cardamom coarsely pounded is best
- a few drops of kewra or rosewater essence
- 2 tbsp warm milk to use as needed
- Ghee for frying lots of it!
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients except the milk in a large bowl with clean hands. The saffron you can snip into smaller pieces and scatter over.
- Knead just until it all comes together to form a cohesive ball - the dough will not and should not be perfectly smooth, just hold together well and it will be on the harder side. If you cannot achieve this without the milk then add ½ tbsp of the milk and knead one more time. Do not add too much milk.
- Set the dough aside and let it rest for at least two hours. Overnight is fine as well. In an hour or two you should see that the dough has taken off a little bit of a sheen. If it hasn't then add a half tbsp of ghee and knead it in.
- When you are ready to cook heat ghee on a low flame in a wide pot (at least 8 inches). Heating ghee to the right temperature is key. A small ball of dough put into the ghee should sink to the bottom and instantly start slowly sizzling, gradually rising up and frying golden not brown. If it isn't rising the ghee is not hot enough, if it is darkening fast then add more ghee to bring down the temperature.
- Roll out the dough for the tikiyaan on a lightly floured surface (flour more if the dough is too sticky to handle) and roll out to about ⅛ of an inch or sugar cookie thickness. The tikiyaan will puff up a little when cooked. Use your cutter of choice - I used the top of a babyfood jar but you can use any thing clean and round and cut out the tikiyaan.
- Fry just one first to make sure it is frying correctly, cook till the center looks slightly golden and the edges a little more so - about 2.5 minutes on one side and 2 on the other. If you overcook them they will be ok the day off, but considerably crunchier the next day. The tiki will have a craggier surface on on side and that is totally fine.
- If you are happy with the outcome then fry 5 at a time, adding ghee as needed to the pot. Be careful when you flip them, gentle is the way to go. Do remember that as the ghee level draws down the tikiyaan will brown faster, add ghee as needed.
- Tikiyaan keep well for weeks in a tightly sealed container.
- My 2-inch cutter yielded about 26-28 mini tikiyaan with this amount of dough.
Video
Notes
Looking for another desi dessert?
How about this easy No Churn Kulfa Ice Cream or a Coconut Barfi?
Aimansmomkitchen says
Hi Sarah 👋 I am really impressed by your meethi tikkya recipe as well as your way of explaining ❤️ your writing style shows me someone lively and lovely person behind this recipe 😊 infact, I came across your blog when I have done my recipe of mithi tikki and just was searching for how I can display beautiful thumbnail.
If you have youtube channel I will definitely subscribe 💓 stay blessed.
Sarah Mir says
That is SO very kind of you to say! thank you!
Sharfunnisa Quadri says
love this. I am dying to make this for my kids but want to make it in airfryer haha i know, i know - for once i should just make them as is
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Funnily enough someone JUST told me today that they tried them in an air frier (brushed with melted ghee) and it worked! they didnt break at all!
Asma says
All points for the taste, the taste is heavenly!
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Thank you so very very much!
Zara says
Hey there, i stumbled upon your tikkiyan recipe and wanted to know which type of cream did you use? Is it thickened or double cream? Thanks
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Hi Zara! Sorry for the late reply, but I use whipping cream which isn't thickened, you have to beat it to work volume in it. When I make them in Karachi I use regular ol milk pak!
Sumera says
Noted. Will use the BP with are. I did make your recipe and they were a hit. Thank you 🙂
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Thank you for sharing that! I am SO pleased to hear it
Sumera says
Thank you for this lovely tikkiyan recipe. I was searching if baking powder is a good idea for them. I have been making meethi puree (as called in our household) since I remember. These are a Ramadan staple to have with chai after Maghrib namaaz 🙂
We do use sooji and egg as well. However you are so right that even now to make perfect tikkiyan is art ♡
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Sumera thanks for taking the time to share your comments! I love that meethi tikiyaan are a part of your ramzan memories! You can totally use a BP, but just make sure you don't overdo it so that you don't end up with donuts! (my khala always says this to me!)
Nadia Murtaza says
Great! I'll definitely try this recipe. ?
Nadia Murtaza says
Hi! These Tikkiyan looks so delicious that I want to grab them right out of the picture. Their size is so perfect. I'm interested in knowing the texture of the Tikkiyan by adding cream instead of semolina? What's the difference that it would create with cream?
Thanks! ?
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Thank you so so much Nadia! So the difference is this - they're just more tender. The sooji will give it a subtle nubbiness, but then you also have to use the milk and maybe a little more since sooji sucks up milk which makes it a little bit prone to hardening. Also if you are using sooji then I believe you have to knead it completely smooth and the dough will have a softer more elastic consistency. Hope this helps!
salmadinani says
I've never tried these before but they look seriously delicious@
Michelle says
How sweet to have such a talented auntie! And, boy, do those sound delicious.
Henna says
I'm loving this! And are these photos from the new dslr? They look great either way!
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Thanks Henna! And yes they're from the new camera, had to rush a little since I was actually making them for a niaz at my house lol