Jalebi (Fritters in Syrup)
Jalebi is a sweet fritter that is shaped like a slightly large, chaotic pretzel. It is traditionally prepared in India and Pakistan. Well-made jalebi has a tart element with a sweet taste.
- Prep
- 43 min
- Cook
- 1 hr 41 min
- Total
- 2 hr 24 min
- Servings
- As written in source
- Difficulty
- Advanced
Timings are approximate — worked out from the method, not measured in a test kitchen.
Ingredients
Quantities are retained as written by the source and do not scale automatically. Tap an ingredient to check it off as you go.
Cooking instructions
Procedure
Mix up the batter ingredients until smooth.
Procedure
Let the batter sit unrefrigerated and uncovered overnight (about 12 hours).
Procedure
Mix the sugar, water, and cream of tartar for the syrup.
Procedure
Stir the syrup over moderate heat until the sugar is dissolved.
Procedure
Put on high heat and boil for 5 minutes.
Procedure
Let the syrup cool, and stir in the rosewater. Use food coloring to tint it light orange.
Procedure
Put the vegetable oil in a wide wok-like dish, and heat to about 350°F (175°C).
Procedure
Put the batter into a pastry bag with about a ¼ inch opening. If it is too dry to squeeze out, mix in a bit of water.
Procedure
Squeeze the batter into the oil, making a couple of figure-eight shapes and loops on top of each other. The shape should be about 3 inches on its longest side.
Procedure
Fry each jalebi until golden brown. Remove, let the oil drain off, then soak in syrup for a minute.
Procedure
Serve.
Photo: Wikimedia contributor · CC BY 2.0 · https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 · Photo source and licence
Wikibooks contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ · Adapted; quantities retained as written. · Original source
Read it through first
Skim all 11 steps before you start — it is the difference between cooking and firefighting.
Scale it
Use the quantities listed in the original recipe. Adjust them manually if making a different batch size.
Storage
Cool completely, then keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Reheating
Reheat gently with a splash of water in a covered pan, rather than blasting it, so nothing dries out.
Approximate values per serving. Worked out from the ingredient list — treat them as a guide, not a measurement.
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