Sugared Kal Kals/Christmas Kul Kuls
Sugared Kal Kals/Christmas Kul Kuls
Kal-Kals are a special Christmas treat that my Mum would make every year. Since it took a lot of time, all of us had to sit together and make a certain amount of them before being excused. Kal-Kals will always be my favourite Christmas tradition. If I had to choose just one from all the Christmas treats, Sugared Kal-Kals/Christmas Kul-Kuls stand head and shoulders above the rest. The process for making Sugared Kal-kals/Christmas Kul-Kuls is a long and tedious one. If you are making it alone. When you have a group of people helping out, it becomes a time of fun and bonding. After the dough has been made the Kal-Kals have to be divided into tiny marble shaped balls. Each one is then rolled on a fork into a pretty shell like shape. They are then deep fried in hot oil. After that they are drained on kitchen absorption paper. The sugaring process is done the following day. And then it’s time to be stored and hidden away till the 23rd or 24th of December.
When we were kids, one Christmas, my Dad wanted to make his version of Sugared Kal-Kals/Christmas Kul-Kuls. And I was recruited to help him. He used wheat flour and added the sugar with the dough and then I helped him to roll them out into Kal-Kals. My Mum was hovering in the background, insisting we do it her way. My brother was on her team. Anyway, horrors of horrors, when my Dad fried the Kal-Kals they opened out. (That’s what happens when too much of baking powder is used). My Mum had a good laugh and an “I told you so look” on her face. What my Mum later made were tiny, pretty , dainty Kal-Kals that retained their shape and looked and tasted good. As for my Dad’s Kal-Kals, they won hands down as far as taste was concerned. In the end we all had a good laugh and had double the share of Sugared Kal Kals/Christmas Kul Kuls that year!
The Recipe For Sugared Kal Kals/Christmas Kul Kuls
The Ingredients For Sugared Kal Kals/Christmas Kul Kuls
1/2 kg wheat flour
50 gms salted butter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 tsp baking powder
Water for mixing
NB: Vegetarians can leave out the egg
1 litre oil for frying
Method For Making Sugared Kal Kals/Christmas Kul Kuls
Sieve the flour and baking powder together and place in large mixing bowl. Stir in the butter, egg, essence and mix well. Add enough water to form a soft, pliable dough. Knead for 10 minutes. Make small marble sized balls and press each one flat on a fork (see photograph) and roll into Kal Kals. Arrange on flat tray sprinkled with flour to prevent Kal Kals from sticking. Heat oil and fry in three or four batches until the Kal Kals rise to the surface and are golden brown. Drain and cool. Next day sugar them.
For Sugaring:
200 gms sugar
2 tbsp water
Method:
Boil sugar and water together in heavy bottomed pan to a one string consistency. Add the Kal Kals and give it a good whirl. Transfer to tray lined with baking paper and cool. Store in airtight containers.
Some other Christmas Treats For You To Make
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