Khubani Ka meetha ( Dried Apricot Dessert)

Khubani Ka meetha ( Dried Apricot Dessert)

Khubani ka Meetha is a very popular and one of the delicacies of Hyderabadi cuisine. It is a common feature at Hyderabadi weddings. It is made out of dried apricots. "Khubani" means apricot in urdu language and "meetha" meaning sweet that's why it is called "khubani ka meetha".

This dessert is my hubby's only favourite which was enjoyed by all on his Birthday. I got this recipe from my neighbour who is an expert in preparing this dish. I thank her for making me learn this dish on the special day.

Ingredients:

• 400 grams dried apricots
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• juice of half lemon
• 2 drops vanilla essence

Method:

Wash and soak apricots in water for 5-6 hours or overnight. Make sure you add enough water to cover all the apricots.

After soaking them for specified time they will become soft and pulpy. Remove the apricots from the water. Do not throw the soaked water.

Now deseed the apricots. Don't throw away the seeds as there are small almond like nuts in them, which we will use in the dessert.

Crack open the seeds with a nut cracker to extract the nuts. Now blanch the nuts, remove the skin and keep aside for garnishing.

Take a vessel add sugar and around 2-3 cups water and boil it for 10 minutes to make a thin sugar syrup and keep aside.

Now boil the deseeded apricots using the same water in which they were soaked. Boil them on a high flame for 10 minutes and then reduce the flame and cook for another 10-15 minutes. Now add the sugar syrup and mix properly. Boil for another 10 minutes or till it gets completely cooked. It is fully cooked when the colour changes to  brown.

Now take it out in a serving dish. Once it turns warm add in the lemon juice and vanilla essence. Mix properly. Garnish it with the blanched nuts.

Serve hot or cold with or without ice-cream.