Sing pak (Crushed peanut bars) with jaggery

Sing pak or crushed peanut bar is my childhood favorite winter goodie that my mom prepared for us every year in winter. Mostly people either prepare this delight at home but you can easily buy it from the street side vendors or local grocery stores. Sing pak is prepared specially around the festival of Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti when Sun enters into Makar rashi (Capricorn zodiac) - moves northwards - indicating end of winter and beginning of spring season. It is also called a harvest festival and is celebrated across India. 

It is very easy and simple to prepare Sing pak (Crushed peanut bar) with just 3 ingredients - peanuts, jaggery and ghee or coconut oil. These ingredients boost immunity and help our body fight against changing season. Sing pak is protein rich and provides energy to keep up with change in the season. I have seen sometimes people add dried ginger powder or cardamom powder to it but I just love the original plain Sing pak without any add-ons. Sing pak (Crushed peanut bar) can be a healthier snacking option for kids and adults. Once you learn how to prepare the Sing pak, you can prepare the same using any type of nuts like cashews or almonds. 

What is Sing pak?

Sing pak is a winter delicacy from Gujarat, where Sing is a Gujarati word for peanuts and pak is something very close to a texture like fudge. Sing pak is completely different in texture from Sing chikki. Sing pak has texture like fudge that is hard enough to hold together peanuts and jaggery but easy to break and bite on it without much efforts. While Sing chikki has a texture like brittle or candy. 

Jaggery vs Sugar?

Sing pak can be prepared using either jaggery or sugar. However, using jaggery is not only healthier but also more nutritious and of course it tastes so much better in my opinion. Even though jaggery and sugar both have same amount of calories, jaggery is rich in iron, magnesium and potassium. To prepare Sing pak (Crushed peanut bars), you just need to learn how to obtain the correct texture for jaggery. 

Sing pak - Crushed Peanut bar

Prepare time - 10 minutes

Cook time - 5 minutes

Yields - 10 to 12 squares

Ingredients

3/4 Cup Raw Sing/Peanuts (blanched)

1/2 Cup Gol/Gur/Shaved/powdered Jaggery

2 Tbsp Ghee or Coconut oil 

Instructions

Begin with greasing a tray or a plate with high rims with some ghee. 

Now roast peanuts in a kadhai or heavy bottom pan on a medium heat. Be sure to stir peanuts frequently to evenly roast them without burning them. After 2-3 minutes, you will notice brown spots on peanuts, indicating peanuts have turned crisp and you can easily remove the skin (if using peanuts with skin). Turn off the heat and transfer the peanuts in a plate. 

Once the peanuts cool down a little, take a paper towel or cloth napkin and rub the peanuts to remove skin easily. This is just one additional step to perform if using unblanched peanuts. 

Now, add the blanched roasted peanuts in a blender and grind them in pulses. This will ensure the oil from peanuts does not separate. Transfer the crushed peanuts in a bowl. 

Next heat up the same kadhai or heavy bottom pan and add ghee. Once ghee is melted, add shaved or powdered jaggery to it. Once jaggery start melting, it will turn bubbly and mix well with ghee. Be sure to stir jaggery frequently so that it melts evenly. 

Quickly turn off the heat and add crushed peanuts to jaggery. Combine jaggery and peanuts well and transfer the mixture to greased plate. Spread and flatten the Sing pak with the help of a flat bottom bowl or spatula. Alternatively, you can place parchment or butter paper on top and spread it by rolling pin. 

Mark the lines on Sing pak (Crushed peanut bars) using knife while it is still warm. 

Allow Sing pak (Crushed peanut bars) to cool down completely before cutting into pieces. Store in airtight container and enjoy this winter goodie!