Shirpera (Afghan milk fudge)

SERVES 4

“Shirpera is a nut-filled sweet with a texture that sits somewhere between a crumbly nougat and fudge,” says Ayubi. “In Afghanistan, during celebrations such as Eid, people usually buy shirpera from specialty sweet shops called qanadis. This is one of my sister, Fatema’s, recipes.” Start this recipe a day ahead. Pictured p92 440 gm (2 cups) caster sugar 2 tsp ground cardamom 1 tbsp rosewater

1 tbsp butter

100 gm slivered almonds

100 gm pistachios, 50gm coarsely chopped, 50gm finely chopped 670 gm (6 cups) full-cream milk powder

Handful of slivered pistachios, for decorating 1 Lightly grease a 20cm x

30cm baking tray and line with baking paper so it overhangs each end. This will help to lift out the shirpera when it has set. 2 Combine sugar and 250ml (1 cup) water in a saucepan over high heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil and cook, without stirring, until syrup thickens and reaches between 110°C and 112°C on a sugar thermometer (5 minutes). 3 Remove from heat and pour syrup into a large bowl. Add cardamom, rosewater, butter, almonds and coarsely chopped pistachios. Combine with a wooden spoon, then add milk powder, in batches, stirring to incorporate between each addition. It’s important to work quickly when stirring in the milk powder because, as the mixture cools between each addition, it will become firmer and more difficult to mix. The consistency of the finished mixture should be thick and soft, but holding its form, rather than runny or very hard when poured from a spoon. 4 Spread mixture evenly over prepared tray with a metal spatula, then dampen your hands and smooth the surface. Sprinkle over the finely chopped pistachios, gently pushing them into the fudge. Decorate with slivered pistachios, then set aside overnight, uncovered, at room temperature to set.

5 Traditionally, shirpera is cut into diamond shapes or squares and piled high on decorative platters to serve. It can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

“Food was never static, but an ever-evolving way to stay anchored to our history while filling our sails with hopes for tomorrow.”