JALEBI-The national sweet treat of India

Come on! You must have come across something like an entangled yellow-ish or orange-ish pipe like edible structure or should i name it a jalebi? or are you trying to find out what that tangled thing is? that is why, you are here. And yes, you are just at the right place!

Jalebis are a really popular and loved Indian street sweet. From festivals to weddings they are served everywhere no matter what the occasion is. But have you ever wondered, what they really are? or how they're made? where can you find them? or what it's history is?

So honor me as you're guide today and allow me to take you on a ride where you might find yourself entangled in this sugary web of delight!

Jalebis are often known as funnel cakes but don't get them wrong. They both are quite similar but are very differentiable at the same time. The major difference comes with different batter preparations. A batter for jalebi will not contain baking powder and hence, has a more chewy texture as compared to a western style funnel cake. Also, jalebis, during the process, are fried and then soaked in a caramelized sugar syrup.

Honestly, there's nothing but everything special about these jalebis. They are really simple and cheap but definitely, heaven in terms of taste. They are quite similar to Shahi Jilipi and Chenna jalebi. They are concentric circular shapes, deep fried and sugar soaked delight.

jalebi from the streets of Amritsar, India

I guess by now you must be fascinated to find out the making process, so here's a brief account-

THE MAKING PROCESS OF JALEBI

Originally, as an Indian sweet, jalebis are eggless, made with only a few basic ingredients such as flour, yoghurt, salt and a pinch of baking soda. The prepared batter is whisked well until a ribbon like consistency. Then a muslin cloth with a small hole in the center, is filled with the batter and squeezed in concentric circles in hot oil. They are a popular sweet snack that are deep fried in pretzel or circular shapes and soaked in sugar syrup.

Jalebis can be flavored with a number of ingredients like rose water or saffron.

Jalebis are sweet but crispy at the same time along with a sweet syrup dripping off with every bite and accompanied by another delicacy called the Rabri which is majorly made by reducing milk.

street vendor making jalebis, A sight in Amritsar, India.

Before we move any further, lets have a look at its brief history-

EARLY HISTORY: digging into the origin of jalebis

Talking about the early history, jalebis aren't as Indian as you think they are.

Jalebis are known to have been originated in Iran as Zalabiya . So, it will come as a shock to many to know that the origin of jalebi is not Indian at all. In fact, the nation’s beloved recipe is perhaps, an import from its Middle-Eastern counterpart Zalabiyaor, the Persian Zulbiya. The Persian and Turkish invaders brought with them this mesmerizing delicacy on the shores of India during the medieval times.

Jalebis are not really hard to find in India especially in the northern regions. Jalebis are known as the national sweet of India. They are easily available in every corner of the country. In some places, they are sold on stalls but they can be found in restaurants as well. Old Delhi is the perfect place from where you might want to relish this perfect delight, eaten both hot and cold. This is the exact sweet to remind you of the true nature of the Indian culture.

You might find the syrup falling off from your jalebi dripping off your lips with every single bite you take, especially when eaten fresh and hot.

Jalebis are sold almost everywhere and the rate usually depends on where they are sold. They are sold by vendors with small stalls on the roadside or any sweetshop or any other such place. Jalebis remind you of the sweet nectar from the flowers bestowing your taste buds with their delicate touch reminding you of the simple joys of life.

This simple but authentic Indian sweet is a pure bliss no matter how old you are, no matter where you come from, and no matter what kind of a taste you have.