Portrait of a Jalebi

One of the most popular sweets Zlebia or Jalebi  is a Middle Eastern and North African fried sweet introduced during Muslim rule of South Asia. It boasts of a history which is around 700 year old. It is known as Jalebi or Zalebi in Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi. In Bengali, Jilapi; Persian, Zoolbiah In Egypt, Lebanon and Syria it is known as "Zalabia." In the Maldives it is known by the name "Zilēbi". In Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia this sweet is known as Zlebia or Zlabia.

It is made by deep-frying batter in a kind of pretzel shape then soaked in sweet syrup. Jalebi is a hot favorite on any special occasion be it a birthday, wedding or festival. Jalebis though mostly eaten by itself, can also be soaked in warm milk.

Ingredients:

•          2 cups self raising flour

•          1/2 tsp baking powder

•          1 cup yogurt

•          cooking oil for deep frying

•          1 cup sugar

•          Few strands saffron

•          1/4 tsp cardamom powder

•          2 drops orange food color

•          2 tbsps rose water

Preparation:

•          Mix the flour, baking powder and yogurt into a batter and keep aside for 24 hours to ferment.

•          Pour batter into a ketchup dispensing bottle.

•          To make sugar syrup: Melt the sugar with the rose water and boil to get a one thread consistency.

•          Turn off fire, add the saffron strands and cardamom and stir well.

•          Heat the oil in a deep wok-like dish.

•          Now hold the ketchup dispenser over the hot oil and squeeze the batter into the oil into a wiggly, randomly coiled circle. Squeeze out several at a time.

•          Fry till light golden and then remove and put directly into the sugar syrup.

•          Allow to soak for 2-3 minutes and then remove.