Pumpkin Seed & Sesame Chikki - Crispy Jaggery Brittle

Chikki is one of those sweets that works on every level - it is genuinely delicious, it is made from whole ingredients, it travels well, and it has a place in Ayurvedic tradition as a post-meal digestive. Traditional Indian sweets like chikki were never designed to be empty calories - the ingredients carried functional purpose. The pumpkin seed and sesame version has a more complex flavour than the classic peanut chikki - the pumpkin seeds add a slightly creamy richness inside the hard jaggery shell, and the sesame adds a deep, almost tahini-like warmth. It is one of those recipes where the result tastes considerably more sophisticated than the process. For a warming winter powder that carries the same whole-seed philosophy, the Ghar Ka Nishasta is the dry morning ritual version.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Earthen Story Organic Pumpkin Seeds Shop ↗
• ¼ cup sesame seeds
• ¾ cup jaggery powder or grated jaggery
• 1 tsp Earthen Story A2 Gir Cow Bilona Ghee (plus more for greasing) Shop ↗
• ¼ tsp cardamom powder
• Pinch Himalayan pink salt

Steps

1. Dry-roast pumpkin seeds in a pan for 4 - 5 minutes until fragrant. Add sesame seeds and roast together for another minute. Set aside on a plate. Keep warm.
2. Grease a baking tray or marble surface and the back of a flat spatula generously with ghee. Have everything ready before you start the caramel - once it sets, it sets fast.
3. In a heavy-bottomed pan, add jaggery and 2 tbsp water. Cook on medium-high, stirring until jaggery melts, then stop stirring and bring to a boil.
4. Cook without stirring until the caramel reaches hard crack stage - to test, drop a small amount into cold water. If it immediately sets into a hard, brittle thread, it is ready. This takes approximately 5 - 7 minutes on medium heat.
5. Add ghee, cardamom, and salt to the caramel. Stir quickly, then immediately add the warm toasted seeds. Mix fast - the caramel will begin to set within seconds.
6. Pour onto the greased tray immediately and spread quickly with the greased spatula to about 4 - 5mm thickness.
7. Allow to set for 5 minutes until firm. Score into pieces with a sharp oiled knife while still warm - once fully cold it will be very difficult to cut. Cool completely before separating the pieces.

Key Benefits

• Pumpkin seeds and sesame for zinc and calcium together Organic pumpkin seeds provide zinc; sesame seeds provide calcium and additional zinc. Seeds are among the most mineral-dense foods available - combining them in a single chikki creates a sweet that delivers two critical minerals frequently low in Indian vegetarian diets.
• Jaggery caramel with mineral content preserved Unlike white sugar, jaggery retains iron, potassium, and B-vitamins through its minimal processing. The caramel process does not destroy these minerals, so the chikki is meaningfully different from a sugar-based brittle. Iron deficiency affects a disproportionate number of Indian women - this chikki is one of the more enjoyable ways to address it daily.
• A2 bilona ghee for flavour and fat-soluble nutrient delivery The teaspoon of desi ghee at the end of the caramel process is not just to prevent sticking - it carries the fat-soluble nutrients in the seeds and adds a richness to the flavour. Unlike most fat-soluble nutrients, the zinc and calcium in these seeds are heat-stable - the roasting and caramelising process does not compromise their availability.

Explore more recipes like this on our Recipes page, or read our ingredient guides and food knowledge articles in the Discover section.