INGREDIENTS 1 cup washed dates
1/4 cup nuts (almonds, pistachio, cashews)
1 tbsp ghee (clarified butter)
1/4 cup poppy seeds (khus-khus)
METHOD
Roughly chop or coarsely grind nuts. Dry roast and keep aside.
In same pan, dry roast poppy seeds.
Remove seeds from dates if using the one with it. Chop it roughly and grind in a smooth paste.
In a pan, add a tablespoon of ghee and dates paste. Roast it for 4-5 minutes or till mixture start combining and become little hard. This is very important step or else rolls will be loose and sticky. Add roasted nuts in it. Turn off the flame.
Keep aside and let it come down to room temperature.
Grease your palm with ghee or oil.
Divide it in two equal parts or if you wish you can take complete paste and roll it in cylindrical shape.
Roll it in roasted poppy seeds. Keep this roll in fridge uncovered for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Take sharp knife and heat over burner for 1-2 seconds, cut the roll using hot knife for clean and good shape.
Serve and store in fridge in air-tight container.
If you want to give some innovative touch to this recipe try out dates swiss roll which is as easy as this recipe.
NOTES:
CHOPPING DATES BEFORE GRINDING EASE THE WORK.
IF YOU FIND DIFFICULT TO GRIND DATES ADD A TEASPOON OF GHEE AND THEN GRIND, THIS WILL HELP IN GRINDING THE DATES BETTER AND SMOOTH.
DON'T FORGET TO GREASE YOUR PALM BEFORE ROLLING THE PASTE OR IT WILL STICK TO YOUR FINGERS.
KEEP THE ROLL UNCOVERED IN FRIDGE AS THIS WILL ABSORB THE EXCESS MOISTURE AND WILL GIVE FIRMNESS TO THE ROLL.
DON'T ATTEMPT TO CUT THE ROLL BEFORE REFRIGERATING OR IT WILL NOT GIVE GOOD SHAPE.
Pictorial:
1. Dry roast nuts and keep aside.
2. Dry roast poppy seeds and keep aside.
3. Roughly chop dates and grind.
4. Add a teaspoon of ghee to get smooth and fine paste.
5. Add a tablespoon of ghee and roast paste for 1-2 minutes.
6. Roast till it becomes clumpy.
7. Add roasted nuts.
8. Mix well and turn off the flame. Let it come down to room temperature.
9. Grease your palm.
10. Roll well all over with poppy seeds.
11. Keep this in fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
12. Hot the knife for 1-2 seconds.
13. Cut the roll using hot knife.
14. Serve and store in fridge.
15. Closer look.
16. Top view.
