Indian · serves 2

Gulab Jamuns

Milk powder dough, fried low and slow, straight into warm syrup.

45 min A proper cook Vegetarian No oven needed

Ingredients

  • 150g full cream milk powder
  • 60g plain flour
  • 10g cornflour
  • A pinch of baking soda in 30ml water
  • 2 tbsp ghee
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 cups water
  • A pinch of cardamom powder
  • A few drops rose water

Method

  1. Sift the flour, cornflour and milk powder, then knead with the ghee and soda water into a soft dough. Don't overwork it.
  2. Boil the sugar and water into a thin syrup, add rose water, keep it warm.
  3. Roll crack-free balls. Any crack now becomes a split in the oil.
  4. Fry on the lowest heat you can manage, turning, until evenly dark brown. High heat browns the outside and leaves raw dough inside.
  5. Straight into the warm syrup for at least 30 minutes.

Questions people ask about Gulab Jamuns

How long does Gulab Jamuns take?

About 45 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is a proper cook. Most of that is active, so read the method through before you start rather than chopping as you go.

What is the one thing to get right in Gulab Jamuns?

Sift the flour, cornflour and milk powder, then knead with the ghee and soda water into a soft dough. Don't overwork it.

Can I make Gulab Jamuns ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Gulab Jamuns vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Can I make Gulab Jamuns without an oven?

That is exactly what this recipe is for. It uses a pressure cooker, a pan or the fridge instead of an oven, and the method here is written for that, not adapted from a baked version.

What do you serve with Gulab Jamuns?

Roti or plain rice, with something sharp on the side: curd, pickle or sliced onion. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

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