Jalebi : Desserts
Jalebi is a syrupy sweet that is shaped like a slightly large, chaotic pretzel and is traditionally prepared in South India.
Ingredients
Jalebis
3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup rice flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups water
Syrup
4 cups sugar
3 cups water
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
red and yellow food coloring
1 teaspoon rose water
3 cups of vegetable oil for deep frying
Procedure
Mix up the batter ingredients until it is smooth.
Let the batter sit unrefrigerated and uncovered overnight (about 12 hours).
Mix the sugar, water, and cream of tartar for the syrup.
Stir the syrup over moderate heat until the sugar is dissolved.
Put on high heat until it has been boiling for 5 minutes.
Let the syrup cool, and stir in the rose water and food coloring (color it to light orange).
Put the vegetable oil in a wide wok-like dish, and heat until it’s about 350 degrees.
Put the batter into a pastry bag with about a 1/4 inch opening. If it is a bit too dry to squeeze out, mix in a bit of water to loosen it up.
Squeeze the batter into the oil making a couple of figure 8s and loops on top of each other. I should be about 3 inches on its longest side.
Fry each Jalebi until golden brown. Remove, and let the oil drain off, then soak in syrup for a minute.