Gajak

Gajak is a sweet, dry snack with North Indian origins, made with sesame seeds and jaggery. Although thinly layered squares of gajak can be stored for a few months, the snack is most commonly consumed in the winter months since it is a part of typical Indian festive cuisine. It is usually prepared around the harvest time and consumed at festivals such as Pongal. Flavorful and nutritious, gajak has many variations depending on the region, so in South India it is shaped into balls, and in North India, jaggery is sometimes substituted with sugar. Peanuts, cashews, and dried fruits can also be added to gajak in some of the regional variations of this traditional festival treat.