Sugar glazed Gujiya

Gujiya is a tasty sweet recipe which is often prepared during occasions like Diwali, Holi, and other popular Indian festivals. There are various ways of making this popular dessert.

 In this recipe of gujiya, I have used a filling of khoya and coconut, sooji, dry fruits and many others.

In Gujrat, it is called as ghughra, in Maharashtra, they are called as karanji..

Ingredients for gujiya:-

1 cup Maida
1 tablespoon
Sooji (Semolina)
1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
1 tablespoon
Unsalted butter or Ghee
A pinch of Salt
1- 2 tablespoon Milk

GUJIYA MIXTURE INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup
Dessicated Coconut
1 cup
Crumbled Khoya/Mawa
1/4 cup Superfine Sugar
2 tablespoon Milk
10-12 pieces of Raisins
12-15 pieces of Almonds
12-15 pieces of Pistachios
2 tablespoon of Cashew pieces
2 teaspoon
Green Cardamom powder
1 teaspoon Saffron strands

SUGAR SYRUP - OPTIONAL
1/2 cup Sugar
4 tablespoon Water
1/4 -1/2 teaspoon
Green Cardamom powder
1 teaspoon Rose water
Few pieces of Saffron strands

Gujiya

How to make Gujiya:-- 

GUJIYA DOUGH
1. Assemble all the ingredients needed for gujiya dough.
2. In a big bowl combine all the ingredients....
3. And knead a soft pliable dough.
4. Cover the dough and let it sit for 30 minutes.

GUJIYA MIXTURE
1. Meanwhile let's begin with our gujiya filling. Assemble all the ingredients.
2. In a heavy bottom pan add mawa, dry coconut and toast them on low heat. Toast for 15 minutes on a low flame and as shown in the third picture when the mixture turns light brown in color, add saffron strand. Mix and take it off the flame.
3. In a separate kadhai add nuts (except raisins)and toast them on a medium flame. Once they start omitting their aroma, take it off the flame and allow it to cool completely. Ground them in a coffee grinder until it turns into a fine powder. Add this nutty mixture to the mawa mixture along with raisins.
4. Stir it well. Add sugar, milk and mix until everything is well- blended.
5. This mixture should be moist. To check - take some mixture in your hands, squeeze and if it forms a soft ball, it's perfect and if its still crumbly add few more drops of milk to form a soft ball.

GUJIYA WITHOUT MOULD
1. Making Gujiyas without the mould. Take a small golf size ball of the dough.
2. Roll it into a thin circle.
3. In the half fold, place some gujiya mixture.
4. Fold gujiya into the half.
5. Apply water along the edges and seal it tight.
6. Using a fork SECURE the edges by making imprints of the fork.
7. Gujiya is ready for frying.

GUJIYA WITH MOULD
1. If making gujiya with a mould, follow the directions below.
2. Roll out a disc shaped circle.
3. Like a blanket place, this rolled out dough over the mould.
4. Fill the gujiya mixture at the base. Apply water along the edges.
5. Flip over the top and firmly press the mould- seal the edges.
6. Using a knife trim off the excess dough and mix it with rest of the dough.
7. Perfectly shaped gujiya in a mould.
8. This is how the finished gujiya looks like.
9. All the gujiyas should be sealed properly or they will open up during frying.
10. Gujiyas are ready for an oil bath.
11. This is what is left of the gujiya mixture.

FRYING GUJIYA
1. Heat oil in a pan. When ready for frying, lower the flame and fry gujiyas until golden brown in colour.
2. Remove from oil and drain it on the paper towel.
3. Gujiyas are ready.

SUGAR SYRUP
1. Let's prepare the sugar syrup. Combine all the ingredients in a pan and on a medium flame bring it to a boil. Scum will start forming on top of the liquid.
2. Using a spoon, collect and discard. I had to remove it twice during the whole boiling process. Keep boiling till the liquid is reduced and it starts to thickens.
3. Lower the heat, dip a spoon in the syrup and remove. Do not touch for the first few seconds, it will be very hot. Touch the syrup with your finger and if it coats your finger it means that it is about to reach its first string consistency.
4. I have prepared one string sugar syrup for this recipe. To test - press your forefinger and thumb together. Start pulling them apart.
5. If the thread/string between your finger and thumb doesn't break after pulling apart, the single thread or 1 string sugar syrup is ready. Take it off the flame and continue with the recipe.
6. Drain the hot syrup.
7. Clean hot sugar syrup /chashni will look like this. Dip each Gujiya in this syrup for 2-3 minutes and set it on a clean plate. If baking the gujiya - follow the same procedure.
8. The inner look.
9. Sugar glazed Gujiyas are all set and ready to be eaten!!

Mouth watering Holi Special Recipes

Holi is a Hindu spring festival in India and Nepal, also known as the "festival of colours" or the "festival of love". The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships, and is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest. 

It is celebrated every year in the month of Falgun (March) by the people of Hindu religion. It is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm as it brings feeling of love and closeness among people. Colourful colours are spread out by the people over each other. At this day people meet each other, handshake, hug and apply abeer on the forehead to each other followed by delicious Holi special recipes.

It is truth that any festival is incomplete without grand feast and scrumptious recipes. As Holi is one of the most popular festivals in the country, Holi is also celebrated along with several interesting delicacies. Though the traditional recipes vary from family to family and place to place, one thing that remains the same is the zeal with which these delicacies are prepared for this occasion. Sweets are the vital element of Holi celebrations in any part of India. In fact, the festival of Holi is renowned for the umpteen varieties of sweets prepared on the occasion. 

Here we have handpicked some of the best holi recipes. These recipes you can be tried for your upcoming holi.

• Jaljeera
• Onion Bhajia
• Aloo Chaat
• Papri Chaat
• Bhang
• Vegetable Pakora
• Gujhia
• Kanji Ke Vade
• Dahi Bhalle
• Thandai
• Kesar Chawal
• Dal Kachori
• Rose Badam Milk

Special Namakpare Recipe

Special Namakpara

Namak Pare or Namakpara is a delicious salty snack enjoyed with tea or coffee. As we know, Namakpara is also a popular “snacks” that most of us like to be placed along with the tea. Good thing about namakpare is that it, afetr its preparation, you can store it for 2 -3 weeks.

Introduction

Namak para is ribbon-like strips of pastry delicately seasoned with cumin seeds, carom seeds, and caraway seeds and deep fried in pure ghee (clarified butter). It requires approximately 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.

Holi Special Namakpara

Ingredients

• ·       1 cup maida (flour)
• ·       luke warm water
• ·       2 tbsp beaten curd, 3 tblsp ghee
• ·       1tsp Ajwain
• ·       3/4 tsp Salt or to taste
• ·       Oil for deep frying

Note: The ingredients given above is for 1 cup maida, use the other ingredients in proportion accordingly. 

Steps by step guide to cook Namak para

1.    Sieve Maida in a pan.

2.    Add salt , carom seeds, kalonji and melted ghee and mix well.

3.    Make soft dough/ breadcrumbs by adding water little by little at a time.

4.    In a separate bowl combine beaten curd with water. With this mixture knead a tight dough out of the flour salt mixture.

5.    Cover it with a lid and set aside for 20 mins.

6.    Now knead the dough once again for 1-2 mins .

7.    Make balls of the dough and roll them into a ¼" thick flat bread of the size of a medium pizza and cut it into a diamond shape using a knife

8.    Heat the oil in the pan for frying the Namak Pare.

9.    Once the oil is medium hot, fry the Namak Pare till it is golden brown. You need to keep turning them so that both the sides are fried evenly.

10. Drain them in a tissue paper and once cold , store them in an air tight container.

              Next step, Enjoy the taste on this Holi with your loving ones. Try here our other selected Holi Special Recipes especially for this Holi. 

                                                    Best Wishes.