I can’t and won’t live without it. It’s almost a necessity, especially this time of the year where the “Festival of Lights” is celebrated by lighting clay lamps to signify the triumphant of good against evil.
And the celebration doesn’t stop there.
Many of my best memories are during my childhood. We grew up into a joint family. An uncle and his family, plus ours all lived under one roof. Every year, Diwali brings back great memories of days leading up to Diwali celebrations.
Each and every one of us had a bunch of responsibilities. From literally scrubbing the house from top to bottom, to baking up a storm and shopping for new fineries — every task is distributed evenly to each member of the household.
And that my friend, is a HUGE PLUS of living in a joint family 😉
Mom and aunt would slave over hot kitchen stoves night after night baking delicious cookies and preparing a huge menu that leads up to the day of celebration. My sister being the eldest amongst all the children, evenly distribute tasks that needs to be completed before the big day.
From dusting, to cleaning and scrubbing every nook and crannie in the home — there were a ton to complete and we had more than enough hands to do it all.
Preparations aside, the best of all leading up to the day has to be having our friends over for food and celebration all day long. And during the night, that’s when we unwind from sore and tired muscles by lighting up a ton of oil lamps and firecrackers!
I seriously want to be a kid again just so I could rekindle all Diwali memories from my childhood 🙂
In the meantime, I’ll happily lit our home with a ton of oil lamps. Safely, of course.
Tuhanu diwali diyan boht boht vadhaiyan ( ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਦਿਵਾਲੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਬਹੁਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ ਹੋਣ ). This is how we greet someone “Happy Diwali” in my ethnic background as a Punjabi 🙂
From my family to yours, we wish you a very Happy Diwali 🙂
Ingredients:
Spiced simple syrup
- 1.5 cups sugar
- 1 + 1/4 cups water
- 4 cardamom pods, crushed
- 2 tsp rose water
- a few strands of saffron
Jamuns
- 2 cups khowa/khoya/milk powder
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- pinch of salt
- 1 cup thick coconut cream
- 50/50 ratio of vegetable oil and ghee for frying
Filing
- 1/3 cup gulkand (rose petal jam)
Directions:
- In a saucepan, add water and sugar to make simple syrup. Heat the pan on medium. Stir until sugars completely dissolves and syrup gently simmers.
- Cook it until syrup slightly begins to thicken. Keep syrup on the lowest heat setting on the stove so that it remains hot. Stir in cardamom pods, rose water and saffron threads.
- In a medium bowl, sift milk powder, whole wheat pastry flour and pinch of salt. Add in thick coconut cream and mix everything until combined into a soft dough. You want a dough that is soft and moist. If it’s too dry, add in more coconut cream, but a teaspoon at a time.
- Meanwhile, heat a heavy bottomed nonstick saucepan on low. Add enough vegetable oil and ghee for deep frying jamuns.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using thin gloves, prepare gulkand by rolling the thick paste into small balls roughly the size of a pea. Make a whole bunch to chill and firm in the freezer.*
- While oil heats, divide dough into equal portions, roughly the size of an average coin. It might be small, but while deep frying and soaking in simple syrup, the jamuns tend to expand.
- Roll dough ball between palms. Apply a deep indentation with your thumb to add a frozen piece of gulkand. Gather the sides neatly and make sure to seal the dough so that the filling doesn’t leak out. At this point, you have to work fast in order to avoid melting the gulkand. Apply gentle pressure till the small dough balls are smoothly rounded. Make as many to keep ready for deep frying.
- Dough balls should appear smooth and without cracks. If it’s too dry, add a little more coconut cream in the dough.
- Make sure the oil is heating on low. Add a few dough balls at a time to avoid over-crowding.
- Dough balls would be afloat after a few seconds of frying. Using a strainer, move around the dough balls to lightly brown and evenly cook on all sides.
- If dough balls browned too quickly, the oil is too hot. Lower the heat and redo the rest of dough balls.
- Remove jamuns to drain on paper towels for 5 minutes. Then transfer it into hot simple syrup to soak for an hour.
- Continue frying all dough balls until done. Rotate soaked jamuns with jamuns that are awaiting to be soaked.
- Serve jamuns with drizzles of simple syrup, garnish with chopped pistachios and edible flowers.
*Note: This step is important to easily stuff jamuns with sticky gooey gulkand by avoiding a huge mess.
Jamuns has to be one of our favorite Indian sweets. I have a simple recipe that you can find here with a few step-by-step photos, only this year, I wanted a twist. I dreamt indulging into morsels of stuffed jamuns with rose petal jam.
And I did what the Husband says I’m known for — immediately marching into the kitchen and making it happen! Altough the jamuns would be ever so slightly flattened due to the stuffing, it’ll still be melt-in-your-mouth decadence.
Have a safe and fun Diwali! Let’s overcome evil with the righteousness of divinity, but only attempt it with a fire extinguisher at your disposal. Safety has to come first.
What’s your memories of Diwali? Have you attended any Diwali celebration before?
Comments on this entry are closed.
Divine and totally irresistible! I love those moody pictures.
Happy Diwali!
Cheers,
Rosa
Rosa — thanks dear 🙂
Happy Diwali to you dear. I was waiting for this post after seeing your instagram… I love gulab jamuns…. yours look truly divine.. Beautiful festive pictures too!!
Shema | LifeScoops recently posted..Rainbow Polka Dot Cake / Vanilla cake with Lemon Swiss Meringue Buttercream
Shema — thank you so much and wishing you a very Happy Diwali 🙂
Happy Diwali!
Diwali is by far my favorite hindu festival. It feels like Christmas with the lights and people in the markets and I can imagine how wonderful the experience can be in a joint family house. My favorite part is burning the narkasus =P
I always wanted to make gulab jamuns but I never had a reliable recipe. Thank you so much for sharing!
Helene D’Souza recently posted..Spinach and Cottage Cheese gravy – Palak Paneer
Happy Diwali Helene! It’s the best time of the year, filled with many celebrations 🙂
Hope you get to try making jamuns soon!
happy diwali dear. I am drooling at these..
dixya| food, pleasure, and health recently posted..Gourmet Gift Tower Giveaway ($63 value)
Dixya — Happy Diwali to you too, my dear 🙂
Oh my! Now I know what you meant by soon when you said you are gonna indulge in some sweets soon. These gulab-jamuns looks decadent. And Diwali celebrations, I just came back after bursting a whole lot of crackers, the best part of this festival. 🙂
Charul @ Tadka Masala recently posted..Punjabi Dum Aloo
Charul — haha, lucky you! i miss playing with fire crackers. gone are the days 😉
Delicious.. you look beautiful kiran.. lovely post .. I love gulkand flavors in gulab jamun. I am gonna try this recipe for this diwali 🙂
sowmya recently posted..Pumpkin Spice Cake with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting
Sowmya — awww, thanks so much friend. hope you enjoyed these jamuns in Diwali 🙂
I love learning about Diwali – what a wonderful, joyous festival it sounds like. I’m happy you have such beautiful childhood memories surrounding it and that you that you continue to celebrate it now. Happy Diwali! Your sweet treats look divine.
Monica recently posted..Banana walnut cake
Monica — thanks friend! like many festivities around the world, there’s still so much to learn about Diwali 🙂
Happy Diwali! You always make me hungry with your gorgeous photos and creative recipes 🙂
Ashley – Baker by Nature recently posted..Brown Butter Apple Bundt Cake with Bourbon Butterscotch Sauce
Ashley — lol, thanks and Happy Diwali sweetie 🙂
Happy Diwali!! Have a great time.
Love gulab jamun, especially the kaala ones. Can’t live without it, and why should we right?:).
The memories from back home are precious.
Ash — Happy Diwali! Love kala jamuns!! and yes, we should never ever live without it 😉
My favorite Indian dessert…I am crazy over gulab jamon! What pretty pics, Kiran!
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You recently posted..FBTY New Design, Logo,and Awesome Features… Plus, a $ 30 Giveaway!!!
Happy Diwali Kiran! Those lights represent a little important part of a celebration I love… I am fascinated by these pictures and the recipe (I am in love with these sweets). I can feel there’s a story beyond your pics and that you enjoyed shooting them.
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ recently posted..Italian Kale Stuffed Pizza
Daniela — thanks sweetie and I’m sure you were surrounded with a ton of Diwali celebrations around London 🙂
I love discovering new foods and traditions. This looks so intriguing to me, love the rose water in the syrup!
Vicky and Ruth recently posted..Home Made Orange & Cardamom Infused Ricotta With Figs And Almonds
Vicky and Ruth — can never get enough of rose water!
Happy Diwali Kiran! What lovely remembrances of your times with your family. These treats are like nothing I’ve ever seen. So beautiful and that jam!
Maria | Pink Patisserie recently posted..Pumpkin Champagne Cocktail
Maria — thanks my dear 🙂
Lovely post, lovely photos and lovely little treats!
Never heard about Diwali, but it sounds like a beautiful celebration 🙂
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs recently posted..Brown Butter Crescent Rolls
Oh Kiran, I enjoy these little Indian treats but I’ve never had them with the rose petal jam. I do have an affinity for rose petal anything. I always love your recipes, but this one has me both singing and salivating!
Kari@Loaves n Dishes recently posted..PULLED PORK & FRIED GREEN TOMATO SANDWICHES plus CABBAGE & APPLE SLAW
Kari — awww, thanks love! traditionally, jamuns are made without rose petal jam. but i had to use it as a stuffing, because, who wouldn’t love rose petal jam is insane in my opinion 😉
Thank you for sharing your memories with us. Happy Diwali 🙂
Tandy | Lavender and Lime recently posted..In My Kitchen November 2013
Oh Kiran, your work is such an inspiration! I haven’t eaten gulab jamun for years… not since I had my cooking school and a British born Indian chef came to cook for me. Delicious. And such divine shots!
Lizzy (Good Things) recently posted..Blueberry Dutch baby pancake with white chocolate
Lizzy — thanks so much my dear. you had a cooking school? that’s so inspiring 🙂
Kiran – your Diwali celebration sounds wonderful! I love all of your gorgeous photos too!
Ina gawne recently posted..MAPLE GLAZED SQUASH AND ENGLISH BANGERS
They look irresistible!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Chai Pearsauce
Looks like a just found my next yummy breakfast!!
Cquek — jamuns for breakfast?! love your menu 😉
It sounds like a wonderful celebration…I hope you enjoy your Festival of Lights. 🙂
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..Tirol, Spectacular Alpine Scenery
Karen — we did. thank you!! 🙂
Beautiful photos, thank you for sharing your Diwali experience and these wonderful jamuns!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) recently posted..brioche
Happy Diwali, Kiran! Beautiful photos, too… I sense some leftover Halloween atmosphere.
Irina @ wandercrush recently posted..Butternut Samosa Empanadas (Samosanadas!)
Wow Kiran, I could envision every moment as I read this post, such beautiful memories although I wouldn’t want any of those tasks as a kid. 🙂 I certainly would enjoy the eating though. And I had no idea you are Punjabi, so am I. That’s great! Yes.. tuhanu Diwali diyan boht boht vadhaiyan.
Honey What’s Cooking recently posted..Friday’s Favorite Things – 11.1.13
Nisha — awww, soul sisters 😉
I love gulabjamuns, they are my weakness! And your pictures are so tempting. I love your twist of stuffing it with rose petal jam.
Happy Diwali to you and your family Kiran! May you have a blessed holiday filled with family and friends. These gulab jamuns are gorgeous, my favourite desi dessert.
Nazneen
Coffee and Crumpets recently posted..Toad in the Hole for Bonfire Night
Thank you so much, Nazneen 🙂
Happy Diwali!
I have never had gulab jamuns with gulkand. I love rose-petal jam & I love gulab jamuns. Combining the two seems like a marriage made in heaven!
Needful Things recently posted..Of Friends and Granola
Happy Diwali to you too! try this, you’ll never go back to regular jamuns 😉
Happy Diwali!
Carolyn Chan recently posted..Salt Tapas & Bar
Carolyn — thank you!!
I remember scrubbing the house from top to bottom when Eid rolled around. LOL. I don’t miss that at all!
The gulab jamuns look amazing.
Happy Diwali Kiran!
Ameena recently posted..more sickness
Ameena — lol, thanks friend 🙂
Happy Diwali! Really super recipe. I’ve had these in restaurants, but never made them. They’re so good! I gotta try these sometime – thanks for this.
john@kitchenriffs recently posted..Winter Squash, Corn, and Bacon Chowder
John — thank you and yes, you have to try this recipe 🙂
So gorgeous! it looks so festive and I love the picture of you holding the diyas
simi recently posted..Mysore Pak
Simi — awww, thanks so much 🙂
my fav….looks delicious..perfect dessert for diwali
Gayathri recently posted..Tiffin Sambar Recipe | Idly Sambar Recipe With Moong Dal
This is a great post. Thanks for sharing such yummy treats.
I love your pictures, beautiful! I’m swooning at these, they look absolutely delicious!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl recently posted..Creamy Cheesy Broccoli Soup
Happy Diwali Kiran! I love the moody photos. So creative and stunning! Have a great week my friend!
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker recently posted..Peanut Butter Cup Snack Cake
Anne — thank you, friend 🙂
Happy Diwali! I’d love to celebrate Diwali one year! 😀 These gulab jamuns look delectable 😀
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Ramen Burger
Lorraine — thanks sweetie, and yes, join in the festivities!!
Happy Diwali, Kiran! I have never had these sweet treats but they look irresistible.
Sissi recently posted..White Cabbage Stir Fried with Sichuan Pepper
Sissi — thank you so much! you need to try this delightful dessert, pronto 🙂
Hi Kiran! Happy Diwali!! Wow! Making Indian sweets is definitely not an easy feat! But you seem to do it so well! I would totally gobble these up!
Sammie recently posted..Sinful Chocolate Cake
Hi Sammie! Lol, you are so right about Indian sweets. It’s a huge task, but so worthwhile 🙂
Happy Diwali, Kiran! What wonderful memories and how fun it must have been to grow up in a house so full of people and love!!! 🙂 I’ve had this dessert at indian restaurants and it’s one of my faves…mmmm!
Thanks so much, Amy 🙂
My husband just peered over my shoulder, pointed at the screen, and said, “You should make those.” I think he’s right! 😉 It’s been way too long since I had gulab jamuns!
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies recently posted..Recipe | Kale and Delicata Squash Salad with Citrus-Maple Vinaigrette
Kiersten — lol, he’s right. make it ASAP!
Wow Kiran – this recipe looks amazing! YUM! And the photography is beautiful!!!! Love the silhouette with the candles. Gorgeous!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen recently posted..Thai Shrimp & Serrano Chili Pepper Bisque
Kristi — thanks so much, sweetie 🙂
I’ve never seen a dessert like this but it looks amazing – pinning it! Love the photo of you in the dark behind the candles – just gorgeous and so artsy! 🙂
Julia | JuliasAlbum.com recently posted..Pumpkin chili recipe
Julia — awww, thanks so so much friend 🙂
One thing I miss, is to celebrate all festivals…and all the yummy ‘special’ festivity food
Your photos are gorgeous 😀
Lisa H. recently posted..Golden Fried Wontons
Lisa — me too! from diwali, to gong xi fa cai and hari raya…. all delicious and fun festivities are dearly missed.
Kiran, “Tonhu Diwali ki lakh lakh vadhaaiyan !!!” from our Punjabi household to yours 🙂 Wish you a fabulous Diwali and tons of Happiness!!! We too made Jamuns and Matthi this Diwali. Your Gulkand Jamuns look so delicious. So soft and sinfully good. Love your dark shots 🙂
Mallika recently posted..Gojju Avalakki / HuLi Avalakki
Mallika — thanks and Happy Diwali to you too 🙂
Happy Diwali to you and your family Kiran! These little sweet treats are the best way to celebrate! Food always unites people!
Katerina recently posted..Easy Peasy Milk Pie
Katerina — thanks so much, sweet friend 🙂
Happy Diwali!! These look so pretty – what lovely photos!
Amy (Savory Moments) recently posted..Green tomato and apple chutney
Thanks Amy 🙂
Happy Diwali Kiran! This is such a great post, thanks for sharing such wonderful childhood memories with us. These desserts look wonderful and I love how gorgeous these photos are 🙂
Thank you so much, Kelly 🙂
One of Mr. P’s coworkers brought these to a company party and they were delicious!!!! Beautiful photos!!!
Mr. & Mrs. P recently posted..September and October Instagram Recap
Christy — thank you and yes, this is perfect party dessert 🙂
I always love hearing about your childhood experiences with food, Kiran. They were so different from mine, but the same love is there. These look wonderfully sweet and comforting. Thanks for sharing!
Viviane Bauquet Farre – Food and Style recently posted..Frisée and brown butter-roasted winter squash salad with Pecorino Toscano Fresco and toasted pumpkin seeds
Viviane — thank you so much, friend. it’s always nice to read and learn of childhood memories that is different for everyone 🙂
Wow such wonderful pictures.. are they with you new lens Kiran?! Awesome!
Yes wish I could also go back to good old childhood days.. I think its during these festivals that we miss it all the more.. The Jamuns looks delicious and my all time favorite
Rekha recently posted..Cranberry, raisin and walnut loaf
Rekha — thanks so much! and no, this was not taken with the new lens. it’s taken with my one and only favorite lens thus far — the 50mm 1.4 nikon lens 🙂
Gorgeous post Kiran!!! Amazing photos… I love the fact that we get to see your beautiful face in there too! I love gulab jamun. I’ve never made them myself but they are a necessity whenever I go out to a good Indian restaurant (emphasis on GOOD restaurant, as I have had some really bad renditions of this dish in my time). Thanks for sharing this beautiful recipe. I’ve missed so much, life has been so busy recently! Just catching up on your amazing posts xx
laurasmess recently posted..Aaron {Appreciation Post}
Laura — welcome back, sweet friend 🙂
Happy Diwali and a prosperous New year!
Those jamuns are calling out to me. Delicious!!!
Asmita recently posted..Carrot Halwa- “Gajar Ka Halwa”
Asmita — thank you and a very Happy Diwali to you too 🙂
Beautiful memories and gorgeous pics as always.
Happy Diwali (belatedly) to you and your family!
Deepa@onesmallpot recently posted..Six Ingredient Microwave Chocolate Burfi (Indian milk sweet)
Deepa — thank you and same to you 🙂
Love gulab jamuns and the gulkand twist is so yum!!
Hoping you had a wonderful time with your family on Diwali 🙂
easyfoodsmith recently posted..PUMPKIN KALAKAND (COTTAGE CHEESE PUMPKIN FUDGE)
Thanks Taruna and hope you had a great Diwali with the family 🙂
Happy Diwali to you, Kiran! You look gorgeous – oh I love that picture of you with the candles!! I wish to try your gulab jamuns, looks delicious!
Nami | Just One Cookbook recently posted..Lost and Found
Thank you so much, Nami!! And I love your new head shots. You are so pretty 🙂
Love roses this time of year when they’re dried out like that. Yummy recipe too!
Marly recently posted..Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake
Marly — thank you 🙂
I hope you spent a lovely Diwali, dear Kiran! What tasty treats you made!They look very appetizing! 🙂
Sophie recently posted..A warm Puy lentil, parsnip & watercress salad!
Thanks Sophie 🙂 xo
Kiran, can you come live with me? Can I adopt you somehow, so I can learn firsthand how to make all these amazing treats? Gulab jamun is the death of me, definitely on my list of things I could eat everyday without fatigue. Yours look beautiful and the moody photographs are brilliant.
Yasmeen | Wandering Spice recently posted..Auntie Nuha’s Sayadiyeh: Saffron Fish and Rice with Tahini and Toasted Nuts
Yasmeen — haha! i’m sure we can work something out 😉
I understand why you love them so much.
I have to make them soon. My nephew misses them.
Coco in the Kitchen recently posted..Luscious Greek Phyllo Custard Pie (Galaktoboureko)