Crispy honeycomb Ghewars

Total time: 1 hour
Serving : 6 to 8 pieces

Ingredients:

For ghewar:

• 2 cups plain flour
• 2 tbsp gram flour
• 1/2 cup clarified butter (ghee)
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup chilled milk
• 3 cups chilled water
• 4-5 ice cubes
• Oil for frying

For syrup:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 tbsp sliced almonds, pistachios
• 1 tsp.cardamom powder
• Few string saffron

Instructions:

Making sugar syrup:

• Add water and sugar to pan and bring to boil to dissolve sugar
• Lower to medium heat and occasionally stir the liquid to prevent burning, but not too frequently so that the sugar does not crystallize
• Keep stirring until the liquid turns syrupy and attains a one-string consistency
• Add cardamom powder and the saffron strings
• Remove from flame and set aside to cool

Making ghewar:

• Add the clarified butter along with ice cubes to a bowl
• Mix the two together for about 5 minutes until it turns white, fluffy and creamy
• Add plain flour over the creamed ghee and mix well
• Pour in the chilled milk and stir to form a lump-free batter
• Add water and lemon juice to the batter, and stir to a smooth-flow consistency
• Half fill a thick bottomed pan with oil and bring to heat
• Using a sauce dispenser, pour the batter from a relative height on to the hot ghee Bubbles start spluttering over the oil surface
• Once the spluttering settles use a ladle to make an indent in center of the batter
• Keep pouring the batter until the desired thickness is reached
• Fry the ghewar until it turns a light brown color
• Using a knife prise the ghewar from the sides of the pan
• Using a fork, lift and hold the ghewar over the pan so the excess oil drips into pan
• Transfer to a serving plate and pour the warm sugar syrup over each ghewar
• Garnish with sliced nuts and rose petals before serving.
• The ghewars can be safely stored at room temperatures for about a week.

Indian Chef Chhaya Thakker, who has a huge following online on WhatsApp and YouTube will be sharing her favorite recipes and cooking tips with readers of The Times Kuwait. For feedback, you can write to editortimeskuwait@gmail.com.