Prema Chithi's Coconut Burfi - Aunty Prema's coconut slice

The youngest aunty from my mother's side, Prema Chithi was a favourite among all of us cousins.  Not only did she joke around with us but she also whipped up exciting new things that she picked up from her many mates in the colony where she lived.  One of our favourite treats was the very brightly coloured pink coconut burfi that seemed to say, "go on, eat me, eat me"......

This tastes very different when made with freshly scraped coconut, but I have to make do with the dry desiccated coconut - and the taste is not too bad.

Ingredients:

Dessicated coconut:   3 cups 
Caster Sugar: 2 1/4 cups
Chick pea flour : 1/4 cup
Ghee : 1/8 cup
Water: 1 cup
Pink food colour: a few drops (optional)
Rose Essence: a drop or two (optional)
1 greased plate to pour the hot burfi into
(My plate is 10 inches in diameter and 1 inch high)

Method:

In a heavy bottomed pan, add water and sugar and let the sugar dissolve over a slow fire.  Stir frequently to avoid burning at the bottom.  When the syrup starts boiling and starts to get sticky, add coconut and stir continuously.  Next start adding chick pea flour a little at a time while stirring continuously and making sure there are no lumps. 

Add the ghee a little by little until you finish all of it - and then the pink food colour and the essence if using.  By now the mixture thickens and forms one big lump and leaves the sides of the pan.

Take it off the fire and pour into the greased plate and smooth it down with a spatula.  Mark the squares while it is still hot. Cut after it has cooled completely.  Put in an air tight container and enjoy with a cup of tea while watching TV - that is what Prema chithi would have done! 

I cut them into roughly 1" by 1" squares as they are very sweet.