Gulab Jamun is a popular Indian dessert that consists of small, round balls made of milk solids, known as khoya, and flour, which are fried until golden brown and then soaked in a sugar syrup flavored with cardamom, rose water, and saffron. The name "Gulab Jamun" is derived from two Persian words: gulab, meaning rose water, and jamun, which refers to a small Indian fruit that has a similar size and shape to the dessert
Ingredients
1 cup of milk powder
1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp of baking soda
1/4 cup of ghee or unsalted butter, melted
2 tbsp of milk
Oil or ghee for frying
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 cups of water
A pinch of saffron
1 tsp of rose water
Chopped pistachios or almonds (optional)
Instructions
In a mixing bowl, combine the milk powder, all-purpose flour, and baking soda. Mix well.
Add the melted ghee or unsalted butter to the mixture and mix with your hands until it resembles bread crumbs.
Add 1-2 tablespoons of milk and mix until it forms a smooth dough. Do not over-knead the dough.
Divide the dough into small balls (about the size of a marble) and set them aside.
In a deep pan, heat oil or ghee over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, reduce the heat to low.
Gently add the dough balls to the oil and fry them until they turn golden brown. Stir occasionally to ensure that they are evenly fried.
Remove the fried dough balls with a slotted spoon and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
In a separate pan, add sugar and water and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the sugar has dissolved completely.
Add a pinch of saffron and rose water to the sugar syrup and stir.
Add the fried dough balls to the sugar syrup and let them soak for at least 30 minutes.
Once they are soaked and have expanded in size, you can serve them hot or cold. Garnish with chopped pistachios or almonds, if desired.
Enjoy your homemade Gulab Jamun!