Fragrant Indian Brittle

Name: Fragrant Indian Brittle
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 4-5 dozen
Ingredients: vegetable oil, for greasing parchment paper; 1 teaspoon green cardamom pods (about 8 pods); 2 cups sugar; 1/4 cup mild honey; 1/4 cup light corn syrup; 1/4 cup water; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 1 cup raw cashews, coarsely chopped (4 1/2 oz); 1/2 cup shelled pistachios, coarsely chopped (not red!); 1/2 cup sliced almonds (preferably with skins)

Submitted by Sandi From CA

"This candy incorporates a blend of cashews, pistachios and almonds in a golden brittle sweetened with honey and lightly spiced with cardamom. Mmm! You’ll need parchment paper and a candy thermometer. This sounds SO good, I had to plop it down here at Zaar for safe-keeping. Must try soon. If you do first, please let me know how you like it! Courtesy Gourmet Magazine."

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Ready In:: 1hr 15mins
Ingredients:: 10
Yields:: 4-5 dozen

ingredients

vegetable oil, for greasing parchment paper
1 teaspoon green cardamom pods (about 8 pods)
2 cups sugar
¹⁄₄ cup mild honey
¹⁄₄ cup light corn syrup
¹⁄₄ cup water
¹⁄₈ teaspoon salt
1 cup raw cashews, coarsely chopped (4 1/2 oz)
¹⁄₂ cup shelled pistachios, coarsely chopped (not red!)
¹⁄₂ cup sliced almonds (preferably with skins)

directions

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350*. Lightly oil 2 (16x12-inch) sheets of parchment paper with vegetable oil and put 1 sheet, oiled side up, on a heatproof work surface.
Crush cardamom pods with side of a large heavy knife and scrape out seeds, discarding pods. Coarsely crush seeds with mortar and pestle or side of heavy knife.
Bring sugar, honey, corn syrup, water, crushed cardamom seeds and salt to a boil in a 4-5 quart heavy pot over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, then boil., stirring occasionally, until mixture registers 350* on thermometer, about 9 minutes.
Add nuts and cook, stirring constantly, with a wooden spoon until mixture return to a boil, about 1 minute. Carefully pour hot caramel mixture onto parchment on work surface (use caution when pouring hot liquids) and carefully cover with remaining sheet of parchment, oiled side down. Immediately roll out mixture between parchment sheets, pressing firmly with a large wooden rolling pin to ¼ inch thick. If brittle hardens before it is thin enough, transfer to a large baking sheet (still between parchment) and warm brittle in oven 5 minutes to soften, then continue rolling to ¼ inch thick.
Cool brittle until firm enough to hold its shape but still pliable, 2-5 minutes, then remove top sheet of parchment. Lightly oil blade of a large heavy knife or a pizza cutter and score surface of brittle into 1 ½ inch squares. If brittle hardens too much to score, transfer to a large baking sheet and warm on parchment, uncovered, until surface softens, about 5 minutes, then immediately score remaining lines.
Cool brittle completely, uncovered, about 30 minutes. Invert brittle and peel off bottom sheet of parchment, then break into pieces.
Keep in an airtight container, layered between sheets of parchment or wax paper, at room temperature for up to 1 month.