Balushahi (Indian Sweets)

Balushahi is one of the most delectable traditional sweetdish of India. This dessert is made especially during the festival of Diwali and Holi. This is very delicious and my favourite sweetdish.

INGREDIENTS:-

~ Refined flour (maida) ---------- 1 kg
~ Soda bicarbonate ---------- ¼ tbsp
~ Pure ghee (clarified butter) ---------- 200 gm + to deep fry ( about 1 kg )
~ Curds (yogurt) beaten ---------- 300-400 gm
~ Sugar - 800-900 gm
~ Water to make a thick sugar syrup ---------- 6 cups + for kneading
~ Milk ---------- 2 tbsp
~ Pistachios crushed ---------- 1/2 cups for garnish

METHOD:-

1:- Firstly, mix refind flour (maida) and soda, sieve it together into a bowl.
2:- Then rub in 200 gm ghee (clarified butter) into the flour mixture, till it resembles breadcrumbs.
3:- Add curds (yogurt) and, then add very little water to obtain stiff dough, if required and knead into soft dough. Cover it with damp cloth and keep aside in a cool place for forty-five minutes.
4:- Make small round balls from this dough. Press to flatten a bit, and make a slight dent in the center of the ball with your thumb (this is the traditional balushahi shape). Keep the balls covered.
5:- Heat sufficient ghee (clarified butter) in a deep and heavy bottomed pan, on a medium-level. When it is medium hot, put in the prepared dough balls and deep fry on very low heat, untill they are golden brown.
6:- Drain the excess ghee by placing it on a paper towels and keep aside, allow to cool to room temperature.
7:- Prepare for sugar syrup, heat together sugar and 6 cup of water, till it reaches a two-thread string consistency. Midway through, add milk to the cooking syrup so that the scum rises to the surface. Carefully remove this scum and discard.
8:- Remove the syrup from heat and soak the fried balushahis in the warm syrup for thirty minutes.
9:- Gently remove the balushahis from the sugar syrup and place on a serving plate.
10:- Garnish it with chopped pistachios. Serve when the sugar has hardened.

The delicious Balushahi is ready for the celebrations!