But she has always made from the ready mix from MTR. I have always remember soft as a cotton, sweet as a sugar and tempting as the devil, if I think of Gulab Jamun. And it is always the same vessel that is used for making this sweet at home. Even if I didn't' know that Amma is making, seeing that vessel, I know immediately that a treat is in waiting. The number of jamuns that disappear thereof, one never knows. Amma never allows us to take it directly from the vessel and pop into our mouth. But I secretly know it is more sweeter when one disobeys. I know Amma doesn't read the blog, but if she gets to know if this secret, then sorry Amma, this is the only mischievous thing I have done..:)
We have always wanted to make it from scratch. And Indian Cooking Challenge present the perfect opportunity for me. I selected three recipes from Indo, Lakshmi and Alka. I tried from Lakshmi. I know for sure it is very tasty as I eat it at her home, when Lathamma had made it. Their blog is a versatile place for many different recipes, only sad that they are not blogging anymore.
I made modification to the measurements, though not the ingredients. The original recipe can be found here.
I thought I might as well make this a Step by Step post to make it more clear to all.
You can refer Homemade Khoa before proceeding to make the jamuns.
In a thick bottom pan, take 3 cups of sugar and add 1 cup of water, bring to boil. Sieve for impurities. And put it back to boil, after 1 min, add the cardamom and saffron. Switch off the gas.
While the sugar was getting melted, you take the khova, add soda and knead well. Slowly add the maida and knead well.I didn't use all the 1 cup of maida, half way through it I felt the thickness was enough. The consistency should be soft and well knead dough.
Pinch out small balls and quickly heat kadai with equal portion of oil and ghee.
Simmer the flame, gently drop in the balls and cook over low flame for the center to get cooked as well. Don't touch the balls, rather stir the oil so that the balls get turned and cooked on all sides. 
They swell up after getting cooked.
Once they are golden in colour, immediately drop them in the hot sugar syrup.
Gulab Jamun Recipe
Makes: around 25 jamuns
Ingredients
Khova - 1 & 1/2 cups
Maida - 1 cup (I used 1/2 cup)
Sugar - 3 cups (if you want excess syrup i.e floating jamuns increase by a cup)
Water - 1 cup (increase if you're increasing sugar)
Cooking Soda - 3 pinches
Cardamom - 4 pods
Saffron strands - a few
Oil + Ghee - 1 cup (for deep frying)
Rose water - 2 drops
Method
- Combine sugar and water in a thick flat bottomed broad pan and simmer on a low heat until sugar dissolves. Sieve to remove impurities Add cardamom powder, saffron strands and remove from fire. Finally add rose water.
- Knead khova, maida and soda and quickly shape into balls.
- Heat oil and ghee on a medium flame. Fry the jamuns till golden brown over a low to medium flame, keeping oil temperature uniform. Oil should not smoke.
- Drain the jamuns and soak in the warm sugar syrup.
Notes:
- You will achieve correct consistency for jamun syrup when 3 cups of sugar dissolves 1 cup water over low heat. There is no need to get any thread consistency.
- Only when the syrup is ready, mix the jamun dough. Since the dough has soda, if its kept aside the jamuns will disperse while frying and will not hold well.
- Right temperature of oil of utmost importance to get soft jamuns.
- The khova consistency is also very important. It should not be dry, based on the touch add all the maida mentioned, otherwise little more than half of the maida is enough.
- Never refrigerate jamuns. Jamuns when refrigerated will shrink and become hard. Jamuns will stay fresh for 4 days when stored in air tight containers.
My first attempt gave me little hard ones, I again made khova, this time with more softness, the jamuns were not hard.
To all my ICC members, please link your Gulab Jamun post to Mr. Linky.
Rohini says
Superb Srivalli...! I really enjoyed the challenge, as Gulab Jamun is my anytime fav sweet...! And eating jamuns secretly from the bowl, BLISS!!! 🙂
Sailaja Damodaran says
love the method....looks very soft
PJ says
I totally agree with you srivalli!!Eating jamuns secretly right from the big bowl is a lot more tastier and fun too ;)..Your Gulab jamuns are perfect..Wish I could have some.Mine disappeared long back...
Nithya says
Yummy jamoon.. 🙂 super good challenge.. 🙂
shanthi says
Looks so soft and nice step by step procedures
Shifa Firoz says
e linked mine 🙂 your jamuins look so god 🙂
Ambika says
Hey Srivalli, it was fun to be a part of ICC, looking forward to the next challenge!!!I have linked my url below..
Nandini says
Hey Srivalli! Yours look delicious and yummy! Super challengepa!
Kamalika says
Eating jamuns is a pleasure , making them from sractch was fun... looking fwd for more such challenges
Arundhuti S. Rama says
I completely enjoyed the challenged. Your gulab jamuns looks very soft and nice 🙂
meeso says
It's a shame we can't email real food!
Prasukitchen.blogspot.com says
Supoerb Srivalli .. i thoroughly enjoyed all ur recipes ...
vanished with in a day in my case those jamuns
Divya Vikram says
It was fun taking part in the challenge Valli. Looking forward to the next!
Creativecook says
Everyone enjoyed this one!
A 2 Z Vegetarian Cuisine says
Srivalli, they look lovely and are really hard to resist.
jayasree says
Valli, you have got the perfect golden color. Thanks for choosing it for ICC.
Bhagi says
Loved the challenege....never made mawa before.......Thanks Srivalli....looking forward to the next....
Khaugiri says
Wow, It's really fun making Gulab Jamun from scratch. Enjoyed my first challenge.....looking forward for next one:)
lata raja says
I'm wondering why my jamuns are darker than yours! They look so good. Hope the family feasted on these as i am visually doing so.
Kayal says
I posted mine
my kitchen says
It came out well.Pass that Bowl to me
Medhaa says
thanks valli, this was a gr8 challenge. cant wait for the next one
RV says
Hi Srivalli, Sorry I am a bit late in sending you my recipe.
renuka says
what's the next challenge sri just can't wait to know and please delete link of mine RENUKA which by mistake is the murukku link
PriyaVaasu says
Hi! Srivalli, Jamuns looks great, so soft!!
jamun making was exciting. Waiting for the next challenge.
Simi Mathew says
My husband loves Gulab Jamun and I was looking for the perfect recipe to make some for him. Your's looks so delicious...
Swaram says
Congrats on the Avant Garde win Srivalli 🙂