Discover the Joy of Making Indian Sweets at Home! Dive into 10 Easy Recipes for Delicious Festive Treats
Diwali is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by making your own mithai?
Forget buying expensive sweets from the shop; bring the joy of homemade goodness to your festivities. These 10 simple recipes are perfect for beginners and seasoned cooks alike.
Get ready to impress your family and friends with your sweet-making skills. Let's dive in!
Besan Ladoo: The Classic Delight
Besan ladoo is a quintessential Indian sweet, loved by everyone. It’s made from besan (gram flour), ghee (clarified butter), and sugar. The aroma of roasted besan in ghee is simply irresistible! This recipe is foolproof and yields melt-in-your-mouth ladoos that are perfect for any occasion.
The ingredients are easily available and the process is surprisingly simple, even for novices in the kitchen.
First, you’ll need to gather your ingredients: 1 cup besan, ½ cup ghee, ½ cup powdered sugar, and a pinch of cardamom powder for added flavor.
Begin by heating the ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Add the besan and start roasting it. This is the most important step, so be patient! Keep stirring continuously to prevent the besan from burning.
The besan will initially appear dry, but as it roasts, the ghee will release, and the mixture will become more like a paste. Continue roasting until the besan turns a golden-brown color and emits a nutty aroma. This usually takes about 15-20 minutes.
Once the besan is roasted to perfection, turn off the heat and let it cool slightly. Add the powdered sugar and cardamom powder, and mix well. Now, take small portions of the mixture and roll them into round ladoos. You can garnish them with chopped nuts like almonds or pistachios if you like.
Your delicious besan ladoos are ready to be enjoyed! They can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week. These ladoos are a must-try because they are so basic to any of our celebrations across India!
It's simple to prepare with readily available ingredients and always puts a smile on our family members' faces.
Gulab Jamun: The Sweetest Treat
Gulab jamun is a classic Indian sweet, known for its soft, spongy texture and sweet, syrupy flavor. Making it from scratch might seem daunting, but this recipe simplifies the process, using milk powder for a consistent and delicious result.
Everyone enjoys gulab jamuns after a tasty meal or even as a standalone dessert. They just instantly elevate our mood.
To make gulab jamun, you’ll need: 1 cup milk powder, ¼ cup maida (all-purpose flour), ¼ teaspoon baking soda, 2 tablespoons ghee, and milk to bind.
For the sugar syrup, you’ll need 1 cup sugar and ½ cup water, along with a pinch of cardamom powder and a few strands of saffron. First, mix the milk powder, maida, and baking soda in a bowl. Add the ghee and mix well, then gradually add milk to form a soft dough. Do not over-knead the dough.
Cover it with a damp cloth and let it rest for 10 minutes. While the dough is resting, prepare the sugar syrup by combining sugar and water in a pan. Bring it to a boil and simmer until the syrup thickens slightly and becomes sticky. Add cardamom powder and saffron strands.
Now, divide the dough into small portions and roll them into smooth, crack-free balls. Heat ghee in a pan over low heat. Gently drop the gulab jamun balls into the ghee and fry them until they are golden brown on all sides.
Remove them from the ghee and immediately soak them in the warm sugar syrup. Let them soak for at least 2-3 hours for best results. Your soft and juicy gulab jamuns are ready to be served!
This is one such dessert which is an all-time favourite and doesn't require much effort if you are using milk powder. It is a total win win!
Kesar Peda: The Saffron-Infused Goodness
Kesar peda is a rich and flavorful Indian sweet, infused with the aromatic essence of saffron. This recipe uses khoya (milk solids) as the base, which gives the pedas a creamy and melt-in-your-mouth texture. The subtle saffron flavor adds a touch of luxury to this traditional sweet.
They just look so inviting and are perfect for any festival or special occasion.
You’ll need: 2 cups khoya, ½ cup sugar, a pinch of saffron strands soaked in 2 tablespoons of warm milk, and a few chopped pistachios for garnish.
Crumble the khoya into a pan and cook it over low heat, stirring continuously, until it softens and becomes smooth. Add the sugar and continue cooking until the sugar dissolves completely and the mixture thickens. Add the saffron milk and mix well.
Cook for another minute or two until the mixture starts to leave the sides of the pan. Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool slightly. Grease your palms with a little ghee and take small portions of the mixture. Shape them into round pedas and flatten them slightly.
Garnish each peda with a chopped pistachio. Your delicious and aromatic kesar pedas are ready to be served! Preparing Kesar Peda at home is not only cost-effective but also ensures you are using fresh and high-quality ingredients.
This way, you can adjust the sweetness level to your liking, making it a healthier option compared to store-bought versions. Plus, the aroma of saffron and cardamom filling your kitchen is simply divine!
Coconut Ladoo: The Tropical Treat
Coconut ladoo is a simple yet delicious Indian sweet, made from desiccated coconut, condensed milk, and a touch of cardamom powder. It’s quick to make and requires minimal ingredients, making it perfect for those sudden sweet cravings.
The tropical flavor of coconut makes it a refreshing change from other traditional sweets.
To make coconut ladoo, you’ll need: 2 cups desiccated coconut, 1 cup condensed milk, and ½ teaspoon cardamom powder. In a pan, combine the desiccated coconut and condensed milk.
Cook over low heat, stirring continuously, until the mixture thickens and starts to leave the sides of the pan. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes. Add the cardamom powder and mix well. Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool slightly.
Grease your palms with a little ghee and take small portions of the mixture. Roll them into round ladoos. You can roll the ladoos in extra desiccated coconut for a more decorative look. Your simple and delicious coconut ladoos are ready to be enjoyed!
These ladoos are a great option for those who are new to cooking. This recipe requires no baking, boiling, or complicated steps, making it an easy and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Add chopped nuts or use different flavors of condensed milk like chocolate or caramel to create different variations. You can even add a drop of food coloring for a festive touch!
Moong Dal Halwa: The Rich Delicacy
Moong dal halwa is a rich and decadent Indian dessert, made from moong dal (split yellow lentils), ghee, sugar, and nuts. It’s often made during festivals and special occasions, and its rich, buttery flavor is sure to impress.
Although it requires some patience and effort, the end result is well worth it. Its creamy texture and golden hue look very comforting.
You’ll need: 1 cup moong dal, ½ cup ghee, ½ cup sugar, 2 cups milk, a pinch of cardamom powder, and chopped nuts for garnish.
Wash the moong dal thoroughly and soak it in water for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. Drain the water and grind the dal into a smooth paste. Heat the ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Add the moong dal paste and start roasting it.
This is the most crucial step, so be patient! Keep stirring continuously to prevent the dal from sticking to the bottom of the pan. The dal will initially appear thick and pasty, but as it roasts, it will start to loosen up and turn golden brown and a nutty aroma.
This usually takes about 30-40 minutes. Once the dal is roasted to perfection, add the milk and continue cooking until the milk is absorbed and the mixture thickens. Add the sugar and cardamom powder, and mix well. Cook for another 5-7 minutes until the halwa starts to leave the sides of the pan.
Garnish with chopped nuts and serve hot. This is a special treat which is more delicious than most of the sweets.
Semolina Halwa or Suji ka halwa: A heartwarming treat.
Semolina Halwa also called Suji ka halwa is a quick and easy North Indian Sweet that is so flavorful and delicious. Its main ingredients are very easily available and is loved by all. Its soft and melt in the mouth texture is what makes people like this dessert.
The ingredients needed are – 1 cup suji or semolina, ½ cup sugar, ½ cup ghee, 2 cups water, a tsp of cardamom powder and a few nuts for decoration. In a pan water is heated and brought to a boil. In another pan ghee is added and then the suji. It needs to very well roasted until it changes colour.
After this, the boiling water is added carefully and mixed well. Now the sugar and cardamom powder are added and mixed well till everything comes together. It is decorated with nuts and served hot. Suji ka halwa, holds a special place in our hearts.
A spoonful of this warm, comforting dessert can instantly evoke feelings of nostalgia, reminding us of childhood memories and family gatherings.
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