Many years ago I went in a store selling methai here in Chicago. Devon Av has always been busy and has been a hub of activity. It was a Jewish area at one time and then the neighborhood has changed.
Pakistanis and Indians had moved in and started to own businesses. All of them stores that sold methai which are sweets and other snacks like samosas and pakora and other stores that sold clothing and jewelry, some that sold groceries and halal meat stores along with beauty shops.
I made these once before a long time ago and taken them with me to arabic class. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out on how to make methai (sweets). I am revamping the methai by not using white processed sugar. How does it taste? Ask Mr.Riaz who tasted it for himself. It nearly killed him to wait to try one until I snapped a picture with my smartphone. I have a nokia lumia lool. My Ipod touch and ipad also takes great photos. I often use my ipad to upload pictures here on to my wordpress.
After eating these I found out I didn’t get congested like I would when I go to a store selling methai and 9 out of 10 they are not as fresh as the ones I make out of my own kitchen. There is a big differnce. At first Mr. Riaz thought i was going to make halwa. I said sit tight man I am making chum chum.
I used to make these to take them to the masjid to share with everyone when I went for arabic class. At this time I was a brand new Muslim and I am the only Muslim on my side of my family. My arabic teacher said to someone here have some chum chum sister Benazir made it. I told Mr. Riaz this story tonight and he was very happy other people loved my chum chum.
Here is a very simple recipe on how to make it and I hope you like it. I added 3 tbs of corn oil to a wok and at times I would add 1 pat of butter (optional). Canola or vegetable oil can be used too. I added 1 drop each of keera and rose essence, 5 handfuls of suji or sometimes spelled sooji (farina). I stirred and added 1 pinch of powdered red food coloring. You also add yellow, orange, green and yellow or you can leave it white by not adding any food color and also use only one for the chum chum. I added 3 handfuls of turbinado sugar, 2 green elachi that I had ground in mortar and pestle and mixed and added and I added 3 cups of milk and kept stirring until the the suji absorbed all of the milk and the halwa started to pull away. and yes it is at halwa stage until you see this shape that is in this featured image.
I took 5 almonds and crushed them with my mortar and pestle and 1 handful of shredded coconut. Desicated coconut can also be used too and the nut choices are almond, pistacio, cashew, peanuts and walnuts. Just be sure to crush them finely with mortar and pestle.
Added either the grated coconut or the decicated one and shapped them till It was looking likeit is as big as my pinky, or half and inch long. When done set them on a plate lined with wax papper or plastic wrap.
Feel free to make these and pass them around at parties instead of giving these stores that sells methai (sweets). All of theese ingredients can be found at any Indian and Pakistani store. Turbinado sugar can be found in any isle selling baking items like flour etc….
Enjoy making these and giving these to your friends and family. Cheers..
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