Indian Fried Dough ~ Jalebi
This jalebi recipe, an Indian fried dough traditionally made for Diwali, looks and tastes a lot like funnel cakes and is sticky and sweet. Make sure to let the dough rest for the best results.
Equipment
- Deep-fry or candy or instant-read thermometer
Ingredients
For the jalebi
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (labeled maida in Indian stores)
- 1 teaspoon gram flour (besan) (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon mild vegetable oil, plus more for frying
- About 1 cup lukewarm water
- A few drops orange or yellow food coloring, (optional)
For the syrup
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- Pinch ground cardamom
- Pinch crushed saffron threads
- 1 to 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Make the jalebi
- In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, gram flour, if using, yeast, and sugar and mix well. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Pour the oil, almost all of the water, and the food coloring, if using, into the well and stir until no lumps remain. The texture should be slightly runny, like pancake batter. (This is also known as "ribbon consistency," which simply means that when the batter drips from a spoon, it falls like a ribbon onto the batter that remains in the bowl.) If necessary, add a touch more water. Let the batter rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.
Make the syrup
- Place all the syrup ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a gentle boil. Cook until the sugar dissolves and the mixture thickens slightly, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting to keep the syrup warm while you fry the jalebi.
Fry the jalebi
- Place a wire rack over a baking sheet or grab a brown paper bag and place it on your work surface. Pour enough oil into a skillet or a deep-sided pot to reach a depth of about 1 1/2 inches and heat over medium-high heat. The oil is ready when you drop a tiny amount of batter into the oil and it immediately sizzles and resurfaces without changing color. (If the batter colors straight away, the oil is too hot. For those of you who crave certainty, attach a deep-fry or candy or instant-read thermometer to the side of the pot and heat until the oil registers about 350°F (176°C).)
- Pour the rested jalebi batter into a piping bag, a plastic squeeze bottle with a pointed nozzle, or a large resealable plastic bag whose lower corner you snipped off with scissors. (We find a plastic squeeze bottle to offer the most control and ease in creating your jalebi squiggles.)
- Squeeze some of the jalebi batter into the oil in a squiggly coiled circle or flowerlike shape approximately 2 inches in diameter. Repeat 2 or 3 times to create just enough jalebi so as not to crowd the pan. Fry the jalebi until they're the color of golden honey on both sides. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, gently transfer the jalebis to the pan of warm syrup. Let soak, turning at least once or twice, for no more than 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the jalebis to the wire rack or brown paper bag. Serve immediately or let cool completely and rewarm in a low oven or in the microwave.
Nutrition
Serving: 1fritter | Calories: 108kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g