Blogging Marathon# 63 -Journey through the cuisines: Day 12
State: Maharashtra
Dish: Lonavala's Chocolate Fudge
Today the letter is L and my state remains Maharashtra. I looked quite a bit for Maharashtrian recipes from the letter L. The words in Marathi from L are Limbu (lemon), Loncha (meaning pickle) and Ladoo. I was not attracted to any of these words but at the back of my mind I was thinking of Lonavala. Then I suddenly craved for the Chocolate Walnut fudge from Cooper's; a small fudge place in Lonavala.
For those who are wondering what Cooper is, here is a small description of what I mean. When you enter the market area in Lonavala, there is a small corner store at the far end with a small board that reads Cooper's Fudge. Do not judge the place by its size, because within that small store they have the BEST fudge according to most people! The store opens at 11 a.m. but guess what; people line outside the store way before that. You can see a car pull up in front of the store with huge containers of the fudge varieties they sell. Fresh fudge is made each day. The store runs out of its chocolate fudge within the first few hours of business. And then people have to come the next day. The most amusing thing of the store is the sign board that reads the timings of the store: From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 3 p.m. till stocks last 🙂
While typing this recipe I am feeling nostalgic about the whole thing! So lets get back to the recipe. I browsed online and found this recipe by Tarla Dalal that looked just like the fudge from there. I saw the ingredients list had just six ingredients, all of which I had available. So wasting no time, I made this recipe immediately. I think this was my fastest execution of a recipe ever. When the fudge was ready, I could barely wait to taste it. After a small taste test, I was even more desperate to gobble the rest. So I quickly clicked the pictures and gobbled half the fudge within minutes. I can't wait to make this recipe again, in spite of the multiple pounds it can put onto me! Do try this one and come back tomorrow. I have one of my favorite recipes coming up 🙂
Ingredients
Cocoa Powder ¼ cup
Sweetened Condensed Milk ½ cup
Chopped Walnuts ½ cup
Unsalted Butter ¼ cup
Sugar 1 tbsp
Vanilla Extract 1 tsp
Method
Roast the walnuts on medium flame. Make small bits of it.
Heat butter in a pan. Once hot, add sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and sugar. Mix well and let it thicken for 3-4 minutes on medium flame.
Turn down the flame, mix the walnuts and blend in well. Line a small container with parchment paper. Transfer the fudge and press it evenly with the back of a spoon. Let the fudge set for half an hour.
The fudge is best enjoyed either warm or refrigerated. The fudge will stay fresh when refrigerated in an airtight container.
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 63
Srivalli says
Looks super sinful..will surely make it soon..:)
Gayathri Kumar says
You are tempting me with your pictures Smruthi. Fudge looks so decadent..
Amara’s cooking says
Love the little story Smruti, the fudge looks irresistible. I have all these ingredients, I might have to try them now...
Pavani says
Wow Smruthi, you are seriously tempting me to make this fudge right away. I have all the ingredients and like you this might be the fastest executed recipe for me too 🙂 Thanks for sharing the recipe and your memories with this fudge.
cookingwithsapana says
Lonavala style fudge looks super addictive and no wonder people love it to buy from the store.Love the pictures.
MySpicyKitchen says
Oh my, that fudge is irresistible. I can't blame you for gobbling off half the fudge.. 🙂 I probably would have finished the whole thing in one go 🙂
Priya Suresh says
Those fudge slices looks absolutely decadent and sinful, ultimate they are.
Suma Gandlur says
The fudge looks fabulous. I didn't know that the fudge is that much liked in India to become synonymous with a place. I had heard about the chikki but not the fudge. ☺
Srividhya says
I totally agree with you regarding small shops. You get the most tastiest yummlicious food in these joints only. Your description reminded me of the tirunelveli halwa that we get there. Fudge looks so yum
Foodoholic says
Love the story and the recipe. Will definitely try to make it. It reminds me of a lot of chikki places A1 Chikki, little jelly candies, fruit flavoured juice bottles etc.
vaishali sabnani says
I have been to Mumbai, but Lonawala has missed in these umpteen visits...I will remember cooper now ..the fudge looks so tempting, and would love to try..ha ha..those extra pounds ! Well let's not talk of them 😜
Harini R says
Very interesting and tempting fudge. I knew about Lonavala Chikki but not this fudge 🙂
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
I would love to visit that store in Lonawala sometime. Your pictures are super tempting and the fudge is so simple to make.
Kalyani says
ooh the fudge is way better than d chikkis arent they >> have come out well.....
Chef Mireille says
there is no way I could ever make this - I wouldnt be able to resist that melt in your mouth texture and I would be up to the next pant size within a day
Unknown says
I never visited Lonawala but have tasted some Lonawala chikkis, this one looks fantastic...
Unknown says
the fudges have come out super... seems so easy to make. must try I say
Unknown says
Thnx for the recipe... Just want to make sure... There is no fixed proportion for ingredients??
Smruti Ashar says
The proportions are mentioned in the post 🙂