These cardamom-spiced shortbread cookies were inspired by the Indian sweet kaju katli.
My late maternal grandmother made the best kaju katli (literally “cashew slice”).
Her hands moved symphonically, with effortless grace.
Photo: Pooja Makhijani
It was like musicand magic.
Her kaju katli were firm and velvety and perfect.
It was a creative pursuit that allowed me to bring my whole selfmy whole pantry to the proverbial table.
When I was a child, Diwali meant opening gifts, lighting diyas and exchanging sweets.
But they weren’t very sweet and didn’t melt in the mouth.
Our diaspora Diwali is different, but spiritual, magical and textural in its own way.
My daughter is a third-generation American, and her identities are different from mine, from her ancestors'.
I look forward to how she will transform our family celebration and create new constants in our lives.
Whisk all-purpose flour, pastry flour, cashew flour and cardamom in a large bowl.
Preheat oven to 325F.
Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Remove the dough from the refrigerator; let stand at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes.
Roll the dough on a lightly floured work surface to 1/4-inch thick.
Cut into desired shapes (diamond shape is traditional,see Tip).
Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets.
Let cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Dust the cooled cookies with confectioners' sugar or garnish with silver leaf, if desired.
all-purpose flour in a blender or coffee grinder.
The flour prevents the mixture from becoming cashew butter.
Silver leafis an edible decoration made from silver, often used to garnish desserts.
It is flavorless, but adds a visual element.
Silver leaf is sold in loose leaf and transfer sheets.
- Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient.
