Pedha is a sweet food item which is quite popular during Indian occasions like Diwali, Rakhi etc. Pedhas have a soft and crunchy texture and the shape can be of various types- round, square, rectangular etc. Pedhas are easy to make and are prepared in different ways; among them three are as follows.

Ingredients of Pedha

•500 gms Khoya (mawa)
•300 gms sugar
• 3 drops colour as required
•8 to 10 pistas sliced
•1/2 tsp cardamom powder
•Cookie mould

Method of Preparing Pedha

•Grate khoya and powder sugar. Mix together in a skillet.
•Heat on low flame and stir continuously. Cook till mixture thickens. It should form a very soft lump. Cool for 10 minutes.
•Add cardamom powder and colour. Mix well.
•Take a small fistful of mixture. Form a ball. Press into the cookie mould. Turn out carefully.
•Press 2-3 slices of pista on the centre.
•Repeat for remaining mixture.
•Serve.

Another way of preparing pedha with slight change in the ingredients:

Ingredients of Pedha

•One and half cups wheat flour/Atta
•One cup sugar
•Half cup milk
•Three-four tbsp ghee
•Half tsp cardamom powder

Method of Preparing Pedha

•Take a thick bottomed kadai and add ghee and roast the flour for 3-4 minutes on low flame or until it starts smelling good.
•Add the sugar and mix well.
•Now add the milk and continue stirring till it becomes one single mass and starts to leave the sides of the kadai.
•Add the cardamom powder and switch off the flame.
•Grease a plate with ghee and pour this mix into it and let it cool.
•When it is cool enough to handle, make small balls of it and flatten it a it.
•Roll them in powdered sugar.
•Serve when ready.

Pedhas can also be made using milk:

Ingredients of Pedha

•2 cups instant dry milk
•396gm sweetened condensed milk
•113gm unsalted butter

Method of Preparing Pedha

•In a microwave safe dish, melt the butter.
•Add in the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
•Cook in the microwave for 3 minutes, stirring very well after every minute.
•After 3 minutes, mix well again and leave aside for the mixture to cool down enough to handle.
•Once the mixture has cooled down, grease the hands and make balls.
•Gently press the balls and flatten them to shape round and flat.
•Decorate them with coloured sugar, almonds, cashews, pistachios or raisins.
•Let the pedas set and cool down.
•Serve.

Pedhas can be stored in a container for few days. This mouth watering delicacy is ideal to sweeten the tooth of guests when invited at home.