Hooray! Its festival season yet again and one thing is for sure…Jalebi will be on everyone’s wish list. Try this easy Jalebi recipe and be amazed at what you can do with a cup of flour and sugar. Serve your family some hot jalebis this holiday season and warm some hearts (and tummies). 🙂
Prep Time: 5 minutes plus 30 minutes fermentation time
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Makes approx 35 jalebis
Ingredients:
All-Purpose Flour – 1 cup
Cardamom Powder – 1/8 tsp
Rapid Rise Yeast – 1 tsp (Regular yeast can be substituted but must be proofed in the warm water for 5-10 minutes, until foamy, before adding it to the flour)
Corn Starch – 2 tsp
Oil – 1 tsp
Yogurt – 1 Tbsp
Warm Water – 3/4 cup
For Syrup:
Sugar – 1 1/4 cups
Water – 1 cup
Saffron – pinch
Lemon Juice – 1 tsp
Cardamom Powder – 1/4 tsp
Method:
1. In a mixing bowl, add All-purpose Flour, Cardamom Powder, Rapid Rise Yeast and Corn Starch. Mix thoroughly.
2. Add Oil, Yogurt and Water and mix well until there are no lumps.
3. In a larger bowl or pot, add very warm water and place the mixing bowl with the batter inside the larger bowl (be sure that the water does not fall into the batter). Cover the larger bowl and allow the batter to rest for 30 minutes.
4. After the batter has been resting for 15 minutes, start on the syrup and start to pre-heat oil for frying the jalebi.
5. Syrup: In a heavy bottom pan, add Water, Sugar and Saffron. Cook for 15 minutes on medium heat or until the temperature reaches 200F/95C.
6. Reduce flame to a low simmer and add Cardamom Powder and Lemon Juice. Mix.
7. Mix the fermented jalebi batter well and put it in a ketchup or mustard bottle with a spout (zipper bag or piping bag can be used).
8. Squeeze out the batter into the hot oil in approximately 8 small circular motions. Jalebi should about 2-3 inches in diameter.
9. Fry until the bottom side looks golden and flip once to cook the other side.
10. With tongs, remove jabebi, shake off excess oil and place directly into sugar syrup.
11. Allow jalebi to remain in the syrup for just a minute (flipping to coat both sides), shake off excess sugar syrup and place onto a plate.
12. Continue frying remaining jalebis.
13. Enjoy them hot for optimal taste or allow them to cool and store in a container with a tight fitting lid. Jalebis will remain fresh for 4-5 days unrefrigerated.
NOTE: About mid way through the frying process, turn off the stove for the sugar syrup so that it does not become too thick.
