Gulab jamun

PREP TIME-  30 mins
COOK TIME- 25 mins
TOTAL TIME- 55 mins

For the gulab jamuns:

• 1 cup milk powder
• ¼ cup all purpose flour or maida
• 1 tsp oil or ½ tsp ghee
• a pinch of salt (optional)
• a pinch of baking soda
• 1 to 2 tbsp yogurt
• a few blanched pistachio or almond slices for garnishing

for the sugar syrup:

• 2 cups water
• 1.5 cups sugar
• 3-4 green cardamoms, husked & crushed or powdered
• a pinch of saffron/kesar (optional)
• 1 tsp rose water (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS
preparing the sugar solution:

• mix water, sugar, cardamom and saffron.
• keep this sugar solution on fire and cook till you get a syrup consistency.
• there should be no thread formation in the sugar solution.
• stir in the rose water and keep aside.

preparing the jamuns:

• first mix the milk powder, all purpose flour, soda in a bowl.
• add oil or ghee and just 1 tbsp of yogurt.
• mix and keep on adding little of the yogurt to get a soft sticky mixture.
• the dough should not be crumbly or dry. if it is then add some yogurt.
• make smooth small balls from the dough.
• heat the oil and the reduce the flame to low.
• add the balls and fry them stirring often to get even color.
• when they become golden, remove from a slotted spoon and add them to the sugar syrup.
• let them soak in the sugar syrup for atleast 1-2 hours.
• gulab jamuns can be served warm or cold. if they are at room temperature, then warm in the microwave and serve gulab jamun topped with sugar syrup.