Jalebi

Ingredients for jalebi batter:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp. gram flour/besan
• ⅛ Tsp turmeric powder
• A pinch of baking soda or ¼ tsp baking powder
• 1 cup water, 250 ml
• 1 to 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour to be added later after the batter has fermented

For sugar syrup:

• 1 cup sugar/ 150 grams
• ½ cup water/ 125 ml
• ¼ tsp saffron /strands
• Ghee or oil for deep frying

Directions:

Preparing jalebi batter:

1. In a mixing bowl, take 1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour. Add 2 tbsp. besan or gram flour, a pinch of baking soda and ⅛ tsp turmeric powder.
2. Mix all the above dry ingredients with a spoon or spatula.
3. Then add water. The amount of water to be added depends on the quality of flour used.
4. With the spatula or spoon, mix. Break the small or tiny lumps with the spatula or spoon while mixing.
5. Then in round circular directions stir the batter briskly for 4 minutes. This adds volume to the batter and makes it even and smooth.
6. The batter should have a flowing consistency. Cover and keep the batter to ferment in a warm place for 12 to 15 hours.
7. Stir the batter and if you carefully see, the batter would have become thinner than what it was before due to fermentation.
8. To thicken the batter again, add 1 to 2 tbsp of all-purpose flour. With a spoon mix very well.
9. Now pour this batter in the squeezy tomato ketchup bottles that we get in the market. You can also use a piping bag or make your own with butter paper. Depending on the capacity of the bottle, you can pour less or more in it.

Preparing sugar syrup:

1. Take 1 cup sugar in a pan. Add ¼ tsp saffron strands to it. Do add saffron as it gives a nice orange-yellow color and also its aroma to the jalebis.
2. Add ½ cup water.
3. Keep this pan on stove top on low flame and begin to stir, so that the sugar dissolves.
4. On a low to medium flame, cook the sugar syrup.
5. Cook till you get one string consistency in the sugar syrup.
6. Once you get the one string consistency, switch off the flame and add ¼ tsp lime or lemon juice. Stir well. Keep the sugar syrup on the burner itself so that it remains warm when you add the jalebis in it.

Frying jalebis:

1. Heat oil for deep frying. You can also use ghee or half­half of oil and ghee. Ghee gives a better Flavor.
2. To check the temperature of oil, add a tiny amount of batter to the oil. If it comes up quickly and gradually the oil is hot enough for the jalebis to be fried. The frying temperature is 176 degrees celsius.
3. Now squeeze the bottle and make concentric rings with the batter.
4. Either start from the center and move outside or vice versa. Be careful while making the jalebis as the oil is hot.
5. You won’t get perfect shapes as the jalebis keep on moving while you make the circles. This does require practice and it also depends on what equipment you are using to make the jalebis.
6. When one side is partly cooked, turn over and fry the other side.
7. Some jalebis will be cooked faster than others.
8. Fry till the oil stops sizzling and the jalebis are a light golden. Remove with tongs or a bamboo skewer. While removing shake to drain the extra oil.
9. Then immediately put the fried jalebis in the sugar syrup. The sugar syrup should be slightly hot or warm when you add the jalebis in it.
10. Turn over after a minute so that both sides are coated with the syrup.
11. Keep them in the syrup for about 2 to 3 minutes. If you keep for two minutes, they will be lightly colored and if you keep for 3 minutes, they will have a deep color.
12. Remove with a wooden skewer or tongs. Shake lightly so that the excess sugar syrup falls back in the pan. Place them in a plate or tray lined with a foil or butter paper.
13. Serve jalebis hot, warm or at room temperature. The leftovers can be kept in an airtight container and refrigerated.