Keo Lac (Peanut Brittle with Malt Syrup), Sweetened with Monk Fruit
Sweets and drinksCandyVietnamabout 50 minutes
The appeal here is a brittle that snaps clean, full of sesame with a warm hum of ginger. The difficulty is catching the syrup at exactly the right stage. Nothing gets stirred while the syrup cooks, since stirring makes it crystallize again.
To test it, drop a bead into a bowl of water: a bead that holds together and snaps is ready. The mold is scattered with 70g sesame first so the surface looks neat. The peanuts are roasted and fully peeled before they go into the syrup.
This batch weighs about 938g, at roughly 352 calories per 100g.
Method
Toast 110g white sesame seeds and split them in two, 40g to mix into the candy and 70g to scatter across the mold for a neat surface.
Roast 400g peanuts over medium heat, stirring steadily. Let them cool, then rub off the skins.
Put 125ml water in a pot over medium heat. Once it boils, add all 153g kOBE Monk Fruit Blend and swirl the pot. When it returns to a boil, add 40g finely chopped ginger and swirl again.
Cook until the ginger turns translucent, then add 2 teaspoons lime juice and cook for 5 minutes more. Do not stir, or the syrup crystallizes. Add 100g malt syrup.
Lower the heat once the syrup turns amber brown. Test it by dropping a bead into a bowl of water: it is ready when the bead holds together and snaps.
Add the peanuts and stir to coat, then add 40g sesame seeds. Once the mixture pulls into threads, pour it into the mold lined with sesame.
Press the candy together with a wooden pestle or the base of a glass. After 3 minutes, cut it into bite sized bars with a lightly oiled knife.
Tips
Do not stir while the syrup cooks, as the sweetener crystallizes again easily.
Look for large firm peanuts with bright dry skins and no mold.
Cut the candy after 3 minutes, since a fully cooled slab will not cut cleanly.
A lightly oiled knife gives clean slices and keeps the candy from sticking.
Malt syrup is still a sugar, and this is a sweet one, so small pieces suit it.
Need kOBE Monk Fruit Blend?
The recipe above is sweetened with kOBE Monk Fruit Blend, measured 1:1 like sugar. See the product page or send us a message.