Jilebi/Jalebi - The curvy crispy sweethearts

It was Diwali of 2014, a very special Diwali indeed. Special because it was our first Diwali in our own home in Pune. A cousin of mine, my wife and me decorated our whole house with lights, candles, flowers, rangolis and also made a lot of special sweets and other food items. We made Narkoler nadu(naariyal ke laddu), Besan barfi, Chivda, shakkarpara and the very special jalebi. The celebration was so good, I still remember the very serene moments spent. The dark night, the pleasant and cool weather, the lights and candles everywhere in the locality, the sound and smell of crackers, which I am not very fond of but it sort of became an integral part of Diwali and cant think of a Diwali without it. 

I tried Jalebi the first time that day and it turned out very good. The shapes came well, the crispiness and the sweetness was just perfect. It added an additional joy in our celebration.

Ingredients:

• Maida(All purpose flour)  – 1 Cup
• Yogurt                            – ½ Cup
• Sugar                              - 1 Cup
• Ghee                              - For deep frying 
• Oil                                  - For deep frying 
• Milk                                - 1 Tbsp
• Kesar(Saffron)                 - Few strands

Method:
1. Mix maida, yogurt and little water in a large bowl. Whisk the mix until it forms a smooth batter of pouring consistency. The batter should not be very thick or very thin either.
2. Cover the bowl and keep in a warm place for fermentation for 12-15 hours.
3. Put the sugar in a deep wok/pan and add 1 cup water to it and cook on medium flame stirring continuously till the sugar dissolves.
4. Add milk. Collect the scums with a ladder and remove them. 
5. Add saffron. I didn't add saffron in my recipe. Keep cooking stirring continuously till it reaches one string consistency. 
6. Remove the sugar syrup from heat and keep aside.
7. Take the batter and beat it till the mixture is smooth(5-6 minutes).

8. Take a cloth to pour jalebi batter and give it shape. I used a handkerchief with a small hole at the center. You can use a Ziploc bag with a cut at the corner.
9. Put enough batter in the cloth.
10. In a deep bottom wok/pan heat oil and ghee in equal proportion for deep frying in medium heat.
11. Pour the batter giving circular shapes, 3 complete circles.

12. Fry till light brown and crisp on both sides.
13. Remove from oil and put it in hot sugar syrup and keep it dunked for few minutes.

14. Remove from the sugar syrup and put it in serving plate.