For this month's Indian Cooking Challenge, I was very late to decide on a dish. It was so late that I hit on the first recipe that was on my draft. I am not sure where I got this recipe, it's been in my filing for a long time. So it was a big risk that I was taking in suggesting to the team.
As always I had decided on an off Saturday to venture into this but totally forgot to mix the batter and allow it to ferment. So I ended up mixing the batter in the morning and let it ferment through the day. Knowing our climate, I was sure it will all get fermented. We had earlier made Jangiri. Athamma was recollecting how her neighbor used to make these Jalebis. Then my grandmom walked in and said that my grandpa used to make Jalebi. I was always told how well he used to cook, especially the traditional sweets and savories, I actually he was around to get the recipe.
Thinking of Jalebi, remind me of another incident. For our wedding reception, Daddy arranged for hot Jalebi with Vanilla ice cream, a combination that wasn't so famous 12 years ago. Daddy is always known for his style and way of doing things and this went on to become another of the doctor's well known acts. I can still remember the rush the dessert section had. We ran short of this even after he had planned for twice that number. We came to know that many went for the second and third helping of the Jalebi. That was exactly what I was remembering when I took one bite of this Jalebi I made. No wonder, there is something remarkably addictive when you bite into a hot Jalebi, tart and sweet and full of sugary juice that gushes out.
I had doubled the amount of flour I used and later seeing that I wasn't getting crispy jalebis, I added more cornstarch as I went on. I must have added about 3 - 4 regular ladles full of the cornstarch which might equal one more cup approx.
Add curds, cornflour to the flour
Add the hot oil
Lime juice,
Followed by food colour
Combine everything well.
Make sure there are no lumps
This was the consistency I got after fermentation. As I have mentioned it was too thin, so I added more cornflour and made it thick.
This consistency was right!
Jalebi Recipe:
Ingredients Needed:
For the Jalebi batter
All purpose flour / Maida - 200 gms
Curds/ Yoghurt - 2 cups
Lime Juice - 2 tsp
Cornstarch / Cornflour - 150 gms apprx*
Hot oil - 2 tbsp
Food colour - orange / saffron / yellow
pinch of salt
For the Sugar Syrup
Sugar - 2 cups
Lime juice - 1 tsp
Water - Just enough to cover the sugar and melt.
Oil for deep frying
How to make Jalebi
The recipe asks you to ferment the batter overnight. I completely forgot and mixed the batter at 10 am and left it to ferment till 4 pm.
In a bowl, take the flour, add salt, then add in the curds, whisk well. Then add lime juice, cornstarch, saffron colour, and finally the hot oil. Mix everything well together and make sure there are no lumps. The batter needs to be thick.
I mistook and made the batter a little thin, so I had to add more starch to thicken the batter.
Once this is done, set it aside to ferment.
To make the Sugar Syrup
When the batter is all ready, get the sugar syrup ready. Take a pan with sugar, add just enough water to cover all the sugar. Keep stirring so that the sugar melts. Strain if required. Add line juice to avoid sugar crystallization. But few did after a few days.
Then again cook till you get a syrupy consistency. Keep it warm.
Making the Jalebis.
Heat oil in a Kadai. It is advised that once oil hot, you reduce to medium-low flame. But I saw that my Jalebis were getting soggy when I do that.
Spoon batter into a piping bag/zip lock bag or even your milk/ any thick plastic cover. Cut a tiny hole at one end, pipe the batter into the hot oil.
Fry till it's crisp and starts changing color. This took about just a couple of seconds for me, I had to be really quick with piping and turning the jalebis.
Flip and cook on both sides. Once done, drop the hot jalebis into the warm sugar syrup.
Done dunk them for long, flip on both sides and remove with a slotted spoon.
This is best served hot/warm.
Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal says
That looks superb !!! I am making them tonight 🙂
Mélange ! says
Hi Valli,that yellow color looks fabulous.Hope you enjoyed the sweet.
I have already linked mine.Thank you.
Krithi's Kitchen says
Perfectly done Jelabi's Valli... I couldnt participate this month..
Nutan says
Wow! Srivalli your jabelis look awesome. I have linked mine.
Nutan
Saji says
My fren loves them!!!
I wanted to know who do I become member of ICC, can you please lemme know
Divya.M says
Super recipe for this month..... thanks valli and jalebis looks superb
sabina says
Your Jalebi's look perfect as u said,mine was crisp when hot but became soggy later so think the batter must have been watery.I will try next time keeping this in mind. Thank u! for the lovely recipe for ICC..enjoyed!
Suja says
Will post mine tommorrow my time
Rituparna says
What am amazing challenge. A life changer. Thanks a lot Srivalli.
vaishali sabnani says
lovely jalebis...like u even i used to forget soaking the batter till i had to set an evening alarm to remind me!!...awsum recipe..next time will have to double the recipe:))thnks dear!!
Archana says
my kids love this one sweet. Not tried in ages. Will make it now Thanks.
alpana says
Wow.......what jalebis ........V nice looking & maouth watering. They look perfect.
simply.food says
Made these this morning, tasted awesome but I need lots of practice perfecting the shape!:)
divya says
Looks mouthwatering !!
Harini says
Lovely jalebis, Valli. I was tempted to increase the cornstarch too but I guess there is always a next time.
Anyways, Super challenge for sure!!
Suja says
i have posted mine
PJ says
I would have never made these if not for this challenge. Thanks for selecting this sweet 🙂
Rituparna says
That is one impressive list of participants this month. Thaz why the say "Better late than Never." 🙂
Myka Iyer says
OHHOO!! I m dedicating this effort to the original "Jalebi Bai" of Bolllywood!! Ms Sherawat !!1
Malini says
posted mine...
PriyaVaasu says
Very tempting valli!!! was not well for the past 2 days valli, will post it today!!! sorry for the late post!!! 🙂
Jaleela Kamal says
mouthwatering jilebi
Raji says
Posted mine Srivalli...sorry for the delay.
Soniya Sreekumar says
Thanks a lot for ur recipe...It came out very well....
Anonymous says
🙂
urwa mauli says
I love jelebi alot...mostly in Ramadhan i make them evryday at hom
richa says
Luv jalebies love the recipe
Rajbala says
tnx to you. i was able to m ake jalebis finally. first time my batter was very thin and i had to throw that but you suggested me a thick one and i am successful now.