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Traditional Indian Gulab Jamun dessert served in a white bowl, featuring golden-brown fried milk balls soaked in sugar syrup and garnished with chopped pistachios.

Gulab Jamun

This traditional gulab jamun recipe uses khoya for a rich, authentic texture and taste. Spongy dumplings are gently fried and soaked in aromatic sugar syrup. Perfect for festivals, celebrations, or whenever you’re craving a warm, syrupy dessert.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Soaking Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 55 minutes
Servings: 18 gulab jamun
Course: Dessert, Festive, Sweet
Cuisine: Indian, South Asian
Calories: 185

Ingredients
  

Dumpling Base
  • 1 cup Fresh khoya - Crumbled finely
  • 2 tablespoon All-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon Baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon Ghee - Warm
  • teaspoon Cardamom powder - Optional
  • 2–3 tablespoon Whole milk - As needed to bind dough
Sugar Syrup
  • 2 cup Granulated sugar
  • 1 cup Water
  • 3–4 Green cardamom pods - Crushed
  • 1 teaspoon Rose water - Add off heat
  • 5–6 Saffron strands - Optional
  • ½ teaspoon Lemon juice - Prevents crystallization
For Frying
  • 2–3 cup Ghee or oil - Neutral oil if preferred

Equipment

  • 1 Heavy-bottomed pan (For even deep frying)
  • 1 Candy thermometer (To maintain oil at 300°F)
  • 1 Fine mesh strainer (To remove cardamom from syrup)
  • 1 Large mixing bowl (For dough preparation)
  • 1 Slotted spoon (For frying and draining dumplings)

Method
 

  1. Combine sugar, spices, and simmer to make sticky syrup
    A copper saucepan on a stovetop filled with boiling sugar syrup, infused with cardamom pods and saffron strands, releasing steam as it simmers.
  2. Mix khoya with flour and ghee to form soft dough
    Hands pouring ghee into a bowl of flour mixture while preparing dough, with small bowls of ingredients around on a wooden surface.
  3. Roll dough into smooth, crack-free dumpling balls
    A tray of uncooked dough balls ready for frying next to a pan of hot oil with a skimmer, paper towels, and rustic kitchenware on the countertop.
  4. Fry gently at low heat until deep golden brown
    A clay bowl filled with golden gulab jamuns, being soaked in hot, steaming sugar syrup, surrounded by warm-toned traditional metal bowls in the background.
  5. Soak fried dumplings in warm syrup for full absorption
    Traditional Indian Gulab Jamun dessert served in a white bowl, featuring golden-brown fried milk balls soaked in sugar syrup and garnished with chopped pistachios.

Nutrition

Serving: 60gCalories: 185kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 2.5gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 20mgPotassium: 80mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 120IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 70mgIron: 0.5mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
 
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