JAMUN SISTAS

  

1 1/4 CUPS MILK POWDER

1/3 CUP CAKE FLOUR

2 TBSP BUTTER, LEVELED

1/2 CUP EVAPORATED MILK

1/2 TSP BAKING POWDER
OIL FOR DEEP-FRYING

SYRUP:

2 CUPS SUGAR

2 CUPS WATER

2 TBSP ROSE WATER

5 CARDAMOMS, CRUSHED

GARNISH:
LEMON ZEST
COCONUT AND 

TOASTED ALMONDS

A while back at the Eastern Food Bazaar in Cape Town, I was introduced to these amazing little fried Indian desserts called Gulab Jamun. They were brought in fresh each week from Durban and sold at the bazaar. I have been wanting to do a Gulab Jamun recipe for a long time now, but thought I would give it a little bit of a "twist" excuse the pun :). Another amazing Indian dessert to try out is Barfi, these two desserts are most definitely at the top of my list of unforgettables ... Enjoy! 

PREPARATION  

Prepare the syrup, by bringing the water sugar and crushed cardamoms to a boil in a saucepan for one minute. Once the minute is up, add the rose water and set aside in the fridge to cool.

In a medium sized mixing bowl, mix together the milk powder, cake flour and baking powder. Crumble in the butter and mix well, rubbing the butter with the powders between your fingers. Next add the evaporated milk and mix; a soft sticky dough should form. Remove the dough from the bowl, wrap it in some greaseproof paper and place it in the freezer for a half an hour. 

Remove the dough from the freezer, dust a working surface with some cake flour and roll the dough out to a thickness of about 1/2 cm. Cut rectangles of 8 cm x 3 cm. Making two vertical slits down the short end of the rectangles reaching to 1/2 cm from the end, plait the three strips into a koeksister and pinch together the loose ends.

Deep-fry the Jamunsisters in a frying pan on a medium heat. They should take 5 to 7 minutes to fry, remember to keep turning the Jamunsisters to ensure even browning on both sides. Fry until the Jamunsisters become dark brown, they will expand to double their size so give them enough space.

Once dark brown, remove the Jamunsisters from the hot oil and place them straight into the cool syrup. Leave the Jamunsisters in the syrup for at least 15 minutes before serving.     

Garnish with lemon zest, a sprinkling of coconut, some toasted almond slivers and serve with fresh vanilla ice cream. Makes 12 mini Jamunsisters, I would suggest doubling the recipe if you are serving more than four people.      

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JAMUNSISTERS