Jaggery

Strictly speaking, jaggery is not a fresh ingredient. It is a natural alternative to sugar, brown in colour, and is used across the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Africa. It is made from unrefined sugar cane and is used as a sweetener in Indian desserts and some curries. It is like molasses and can be purchased in block form or cubes that you can then break down. You can use brown sugar as a substitute, so it isn’t essential for any of the recipes in this book, but it is a nice addition to some of the dishes if you chance upon it.