CHENNAI: It is Kubani ka meetha and not Kurbani as most people mispronounce it. Every special dinner party in Hyderabad is followed by this traditional sweet dish. But I remember having only Kubani ka meetha as dinner at a recent wedding reception in Secunderabad. I even packed some to eat later in my hotel room. An elderly lady sitting next to me gave this Kubani recipe and I quickly typed it down in my mobile phone.
Ingredients
1 cup apricots
(whole/dried)
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup fresh cream or vanilla ice cream
1 cup water (optional)
Wash and soak the apricots in hot water for 15 minutes. Mash and stone them. Break open the apricots and carefully remove the nuts. Heat the mixture of apricot and nuts until it starts thickening. Add sugar and cook for another five minutes. The fruit tends to heat up, so be very careful when you take it off the stove. Allow the mixture to chill or you may even try serving it warm. Add fresh cream or ice cream if you prefer. This sweet is also preferred by Muslims for breaking the fast during this Holy month. By the way, guess what citizens in Hyderabad crave for? Our Thirunelvelli Halwa of course!