Gulab Jamun | Simple sweet using Milk Powder

How are your preparations going on for this Diwali?? Gulab jamun is one of the simplest sweet that anyone could make it.This is one of the first learned sweet by me too but never had an opportunity till date to showcase in my space for many reasons.Majority of the times initially,I would prefer making this sweet using the ready to make packets but once I started making from scratch,this tastes much better than those packets.Otherwise most of the times its prepared for a potluck party or when guests arrive and I seldom click any pics then.This recipe of gulab jamun from scratch was tried by me twice and the earlier ones were gobbled up by my kids before even clicking pics.But this time,I made it when they were away in school (smart of me,ryt?;) )and so got ample time to click for blog post.This is a simple sweet that can be made without much concentrating on the sugar syrup consistency.The only most important thing to keep in mind when preparing these is that the balls should be made very smooth without any lines or creases else they tend to break.Do give this a try this Diwali & enjoy at home !!

Adapted :show me the curry 
Servings : 12-14 gulab jamuns
Ingredients
dry milk powder 1 cup
all purpose flour/maida 2tbsp
baking soda 1/4 tsp
ghee 1tbsp
yogurt 2tbsp
oil for frying

for sugar syrup 
water 2 cups
sugar 1 3/4 cup- 2 cups
cardamom powder 1/2 tsp
lemon juice 1/2 tsp

Method

• In a bowl,sift the flour and baking soda together.Add the milk powder and clarified butter(ghee).Mix well,add the yogurt and knead to a dough.the dough might be sticky and crumbly.But that's fine.Rest the dough for 5-7 mins.
• In a pan,make the sugar syrup by adding water and sugar.Bring this mixture to a boil,add the cardamom powder.Simmer the heat completely.Add in lemon juice to prevent sugar crystallisation.

• In another kadai,heat the oil atleast 2" deep and keep the flame on medium heat.Check if the oil is hot enough by dropping a small dough.If it settles to the bottom and then rises within 45 secs then oil is ready to fry.
• In the mean time,make marble sized even balls.Apply a drop of ghee in palms to shape the balls smooth.Ensure that all balls are smooth else they tend to break open through the lines or creases.
• Now slide 3-4 balls at a time in the hot oil and keep the flame on low medium flame.(The inside should get cooked properly,so keep the flame on the lower side.)
• Keep moving the balls in oil so that all sides get even color,puffs up well and browned.Drain on a paper towel using a slotted spoon.
• Repeat the same step of frying till you finish all balls.
• Now,drop the fried balls in the warm sugar syrup.Let it remain in sugar syrup for 1 hour.Put off the flame in sugar syrup and leave like that.
• Serve warm or chilled !!!

NOTES
* You should keep the flame on low medium heat when frying the balls.Don't rush to fry else the inside may not cook properly and sugar syrup may not soak in.
* Don't directly add the fried balls to sugar syrup.Drain on a paper towel to remove excess oil.

Stay tuned for more Diwali recipes,till then check out diwali collections here.