Shortcut Coconut Fudge ( Thenga Therattipaal)

Directions

1. Take a pan and on medium heat, toast the coconut on the stove.
2. When it becomes light brown, add 1/2 cup of milk and let it cook for about 30 seconds and switch off the heat.
3. Empty the entire can of condensed milk into a microwave safe bowl. Preferably a tall or large one as it will bubble a lot initially. I use my 2 quart measuring bowl. Add butter and 1/4 cup of milk and lightly stir to combine.
4. Microwave the condensed milk mixture in the microwave for 3 minutes.Keep an eye on it and stop the microwave if it bubbles over. Stir and let it continue. Use an oven mitt to handle the bowl or stirring spoon.
5. After the 3 -4 minutes, add the coconut to the condensed milk(add cardamom powder at this point) and microwave the entire mixture for 5 minutes. At any time if the mixture looks like its going to bubble over, stop the microwave, stir and let it resume.
6. At the end of 8 minutes, the mixture should be thickened and getting flaky. At this point, I microwave it for a minute and take it out to stir.
7. If you see it browning on the sides of the bowl , its almost done. Microwave it in 20-30 second intervals for about 2 more minutes and stop it if it is getting hard or burning.
8. Transfer the mixture to parchment paper or a pan and cut it into square or roll it into balls
9. Notes : 1. When you add the milk to the coconut, it will get absorbed but if it gets completely absorbed you can add another 1/4 cup of milk. It depends on the size of the coconut. You do not want too much or too less milk and the mixture to be goopy or mushy. 2. At any time if the mixture looks like its going to bubble over, stop the microwave, stir and let it resume. Use a glove or mitt as the bowl may be too hot to handle. 3. After it gets to the stage where it is rising but not bubbling over the bowl, you can let it cook but towards the end you do not want it to burn. 4. This mixture needs to be stirred on and off , it will help get the texture.