இஞ்சி மரப்பா – Inji Marappa

Inji Marappa is a traditional South Indian sweet and herbal candy made from fresh ginger, sugar (or jaggery), ghee and cardamom. Sugar and ghee balances the spicy ginger flavor. People often eat it as a home remedy for digestion and motion sickness. It also gives relief from a sore throat and cough.

Ingredients for Inji Marappa

Ginger – 100g
Sugar – 250g/ 1.25 cups
Ghee – 1 tsp
Cardamom powder – 1/8 tsp

Directions

Pre-preparation

Remove skin off the ginger.
Shred the ginger. Use smallest possible shredder.
Take a pan that you’re going to pour the mittai.
Apply ghee for grease.

Prepare Sugar Syrup

Add sugar and 1 cup of water in a pan.
Heat the pan in medium flame.
Let the sugar dissolve completely in water.
Keep a small bowl of water near the pan to check consistency. 

Prepare Mittai

Reduce the flame to medium.
Add the shredded ginger into the syrup. 
Also add ghee and cardamom powder. 
Mix everything well.
When you see full of bubbles, reduce the flame. 
Add a small drop of sugar syrup into the water.
If you can separate the syrup without dissolving, check if you can break. 
If it is breakable this is the right consistency. 
Switch off the stove.
Pour the mittai into ghee greased pan.
Make lines for cutting. 
Let the mittai cool down completely. 
Now cut the mittai over the lines we already marked.
Inji marappa ready.

Notes

This version is traditional, authentic and it’s very spicy. 
If you want mild spicy, add additional 1/2 cup of sugar.
Will post mild spice version soon.

Pictures

This recipe is brought to you by Nish from Nish’s Recipes nishrecipes.com