Jalebi (Sweet)

Jalebi is a warm crispy, delicious treat. It can best be described as funnel cake. In my home town jalebi was served for the breakfast treat like pancakes. It was a treat to have jalebi and kachori for a hearty breakfast.  Jalebi was mostly eaten by themselves, but some time we soaked the jalebi in warm milk and that tasted delicious. I know jalebi is mostly served as dessert but for me jalebi still makes the best breakfast treat.

Makes 10 Jalebis.

Ingredients:

for the Batter:

• 1/2 cup All Purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon besan (gram flour)
• 1/2 teaspoon yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon oil
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• About 1/3 cup of lukewarm water (as needed)

for the Syrup:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• Pinch of cardamom powder
• Few strands of saffron
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice

Also needed:

• Oil to fry

Method

Making the Batter

1. Dissolve the yeast in warm water and let it sit for about five minutes.
2. Mix the flour, besan (gram flour), oil, and sugar together.
3. Add the yeast solution to the flour and mix to make a smooth batter.
4. Set  the batter aside in a warm place for one hour.
5. Make sure the batter is fermented, but do not over-ferment. After fermenting the batter will be a little lacy.

Making the Syrup

1. Boil the sugar and water together.
2. Add the lemon juice and saffron and turn off the heat. (The lemon juice keeps the mixture from crystallizing).

Making Jalebis

1. Heat the oil in a flat frying pan about one inch deep. To test, put one drop of batter in the oil. The batter should sizzle and rise into a ball without changing color right away.
2. Fill the Jalebi batter into a piping bag with a #3 nozzle. You can also use an empty ketchup or mustard bottle.
3. Squeeze the Jalebi batter out into the hot oil in pretzel shapes about two inches in diameter.
4. Fry the Jalebis until light golden-brown on both sides.
5. Transfer them into the warm syrup. Let the jalebis soak in the hot syrup a few seconds, then take them out.
6. Serve hot.