A denser, richer version of the Gulab Jamuns, an Indian sweet(doughnuts soaked in flavored syrup)

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 20 minutes
  • Total time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: Indian, Vegan

Ingredients

Sugar Syrup:

  • 6-7 Tablespoons Raw sugar (raw sugar is sweeter than regular white varieties and makes a brown-ish syrup)
  • 1 cup water
  • pinch of cardamom powder
  • rose essence (or rose water to taste or a few strands of saffron.)

Fried version

  • 3 Tablespoons ground Oats
  • 2 Tablespoons nuts ground (I use 1 Tbsp cashew 1 Tbsp almond.)
  • 2 tablespoons flour (whole wheat or all purpose or both)
  • 1 Tablespoon ground raw sugar (1 Tablespoon more for sweeter spiral)
  • a generous pinch of baking powder
  • pinch of cardamom powder
  • pinch of salt
  • pinch of rock salt
  • 1 teaspoon oil (I use organic canola)
  • 1 Tablespoon water or almond milk
  • Oil for frying

Baked:

  • 2 Tablespoons ground Oats
  • 1 Tablespoon raw sugar ground (1 Tablespoon more for sweeter spiral)
  • 1 Tablespoon ground almond or cashew
  • 1 tablespoons bread crumbs (heaping) (Coarse crumbs, lightly toasted. I used home made wheat bread)
  • 2 Tablespoons flour (I usually use whole wheat, or half ww and half AP. ww works well for browning the balls but also makes for a crumblier version)
  • A generous pinch of baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • pinch of rock salt
  • pinch of cardamom powder
  • 2 teaspoons oil (I use organic Canola)
  • 2 teaspoons water (or almond milk)

Method

Sugar Syrup

  1. For the sugar syrup, mix all ingredients in a deep pan(also wide enough to accommodate the jamuns) and bring to a boil. Keep simmering on low-medium till the syrup thickens a little(5-6 minutes). Add a few drops of rose essence. Take off heat if your jamuns are not ready.

Fried

  1. Mix all the dry ingredients well.
  2. Add the oil and water/almond milk and mix. mix to make a soft dough(dough might not be smooth). Use a little flour if needed. Let the dough sit covered for 5 minutes.
  3. Oil your hands, take a portion of the dough and make a 4-5 inch long rope and shape into a spiral.
  4. Shallow fry on medium high heat, for 2-3 minutes each side in a thick bottom pan.(Oil should be atleast half the height of the spirals)
  5. Once done, gently immerse the spirals in simmering syrup. Flip after 2-3 minutes for even absorption.
  6. Serve warm!

Baked

  1. Mix in all the dry ingredients well.
  2. Add oil and water and knead into a soft dough. Let dough rest for 2 minutes.
  3. Oil hands and shape into spirals. Place them on parchment lined baking sheet.
  4. Bake at preheated 375 degrees F for 12 minutes, them flip them upside down and bake for 5-6 minutes or more for a browner version.
  5. Place the jamuns in simmering syrup. Flip after a minute.
  6. Then remove from syrup after 1-2 minutes when syrup has been well absorbed. (absorption time will depend on how brown and hard the baked spirals are)
  7. Serve warm. Top with chopped pistachios.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.