Gulab Jamun

Gulab Jamun is a delicious Indian version of donuts immersed in warm sweet syrup. As India’s most popular dessert, gulab jamun is a staple in most parts of the country. Gulab jamuns are served for almost every celeberations. Gulab jamuns can be served warm or at room temperature. Gulab jamun is one of the desserts I make the more often, because this is an easy recipe to make and in my family everyone like them especially my grandkids.

Course Dessert

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Servings Gulab Jamuns

Ingredients

1 cup nonfat milk powder
1/4 cup All Purpose flour plain flour, maida
3 Tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature
1/4 cup room temperature whole milk
Pinch of baking soda
1 3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup water
4 cardamom pods (ilachi) coarsely ground
1 Tbsp sliced almonds and pistachio
Oil for deep-frying

Instructions

Syrup

In a large pan, combine the water, sugar, and ground cardamom seeds and bring to a boil. Let the syrup boil for another minute to completely dissolve the sugar. Turn off the heat.
Set the syrup aside.

Gulab Jamun

In a bowl, mix the milk powder, flour and baking soda.
Add the butter and mix well.
Add milk to make soft dough. The dough will be sticky. The milk powder will absorb the extra milk.
If the dough is dry, add more milk to make it soft. Let the dough sit for a few minutes.
Grease your palms with butter and knead the dough.
Divide the dough into about ten equal parts and roll them into round balls.
Heat at least one inch of oil in a frying pan over medium heat. To test, place a small piece of dough into the oil; the oil should sizzle and the dough should take a minute to rise. If the dough rises faster, the oil is too hot; if oil does not sizzle, it is not hot enough.
Place the gulab jamuns in the frying pan. Do not crowd them, as the gulab jamuns will expand to about double their original volume.
Fry the gulab jamuns on medium heat for about seven minutes, rolling them around for even browning until dark brown.
Let the gulab jamuns cool a few minutes before placing into the hot (not boiling) syrup.
Let the gulab jamuns sit in the syrup for at least 20 minutes prior to serving.

Notes

Gulab jamuns can be kept at room temperature for about a week and up to one month when refrigerated. They can be frozen for months.

Tips

If the gulab jamuns are fried on high heat, they will be hard inside and not fully cooked.

Too much baking soda will make the gulab jamuns too soft or cause them to break when frying.

Don’t place the gulab jamuns in the syrup immediately after frying, or they will lose their shape and be chewy.

Serving suggestions

Gulab jamuns can be served warm or at room temperature. They can also be served with ice cream.