Today is Rakshabandhan, the celebration of love and bond between the brothers and sisters. On this day sisters tie a sacred thread or band around the wrist of their brothers and pray for their well being and brothers in turn vow for the protection and safety of their sisters.It is a popular festival in India and is celebrated on the full moon day known as Rakhi Purnima. Today’s recipe is balushahi.
I am blessed with an elder brother who has been the pillar of all my successes in life. A university topper himself, sometimes he acts like my parent and guides me through the rough edges of my life, whereas in other times he is my best buddy. To me he is the best dada in the world.
Balushahi is a deep fried dumpling made of flour and dipped into sugar syrup. It has a flaky melt in the mouth texture inside and a crusty sugary coating outside. The recipe is simple but needs a lot of patience while frying the dumplings.
The recipe involves three steps. First to make the dough, second to prepare the sugar syrup and finally frying and adding them onto the syrup.
Enjoy some home-made balushahi with your brother on this auspicious day. Happy Rakshabandhan!
Tips:
Make sure while making the dough there is no lump in it. The measurement should be accurate to get the best results. While frying take your time to fry them at a low heat. Each batch may take up to 10-15 minutes. If you fry at a higher heat the outside will be cooked while the inside will remain raw. You may add saffron or cardamom powder to flavor the sugar syrup. If using , add at the end.
Other Indian Sweets you may try:
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BALUSHAHI
- YIELD: 12
- PREP: 15 mins
- COOK: 45 mins
- READY IN: 60 mins
Balushahi is a deep fried dumpling made of flour and dipped into sugar syrup. It has a flaky melt in the mouth texture inside and a crusty sugary coating outside.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons plain yogurt at room temperature
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup butter or ghee melted and cooled
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 cups vegetable oil for deep frying
- 1 cup granulated sugar for the syrup
- 1/4 cup water for the syrup
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice for the syrup
- 1 tablespoon pistachios finely chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
-
- In a bowl add the melted butter, oil, yogurt, sugar, baking soda and mix in well with a whisk. Add the flour and mix well with your hands until it looks like coarse sand.
- Now slowly add the water, a tablespoon at a time until a dough forms. Knead the dough to a smooth ball without any lumps and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile make the sugar syrup. Boil the sugar and water at high heat until it is 1 thread consistency. Switch off the heat and add the lemon juice. Set aside.
- Now make twelve equal balls from the dough and smoothen in your palms. Taking one ball at a time, pinch the edges and twist to form a design. Continue till you reach the end. You may also leave it simple by just making a dimple or hole at the center of the ball like a donut. Repeat with the rest of the balls.
- Heat the oil in a kadhai or frying pan with high sides until it is just hot. Switch off the heat. Carefully add the balls, four to five at a time . Leave it in the hot oil for 3-4 minutes. Now switch on the heat at medium low to low and fry both the sides until the balls are golden brown.
- Drain them on a paper towel and dip them immediately in the sugar syrup for a minute each. Place them on a greased or a butter paper lined plate.
- Garnish with finely chopped pistachios and serve at room temperature.
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