Rasgulla

Rasgulla is an Indian syrupy dessert popular in the Indian sub-continent, specially in West Bengal. It is made from ball-shaped dumplings of Chhena or Cottage Cheese dough, cooked in light syrup made of sugar. This is done until the syrup permeates the dumplings.

Ingredients :

• 1 ltr Milk (Full Fat Milk)
• 1-2 Lemon
• 2-3 tsp of Maida (Plain flour)
• 2 cups of Sugar
• 4 cups of Water
• 2-3 Cardamom (Hari Elaichi)

Procedure :

1. Take a heavy bottom pan, add 1 ltr of full fat milk and when it comes to boil, reduce the flame.

2. Now add lemon juice to the milk to curdle it. Keep stirring it. You may need to add 1 or 2 more tsp of lemon juice to get the perfect chhena or paneer.

3. Now in a Strainer or in a Muslin cloth, strain away the whey. Wash the Chhena under running water thoroughly to remove the smell of lemon.

4. Tie this in the Muslin cloth, squeeze the extra water and allow it to hang for 1 to 2 hours. Make sure that there should not be any moisture in chhena.

5. Now in a wide pan, add sugar and water. Take a boil on high flame and add crushed Cardamom. Check the syrup, it should be little sticky. Add 3-4 drops of lemon in it. Switch off the flame

6. Take out the chhena from muslin cloth. Now start rubbing it with hands to make it smooth. You have to rub it till it starts releasing a little oil. 

7. Once your chenna is smooth enough, make round balls. If there is still some moisture in this, then you can add 1 to 2 tsp of maida and mix it well by rubbing. Then make small round balls. 

8. Meanwhile heat the sugar syrup again, till it reaches a boiling point. Make sure you make small balls as they will swell up once they absorb the syrup. Add the rasgullas one by one in the syrup ensuring there is enough space in the pan. Boil for 5-7 minutes on low flame. Do not stir.

9. Now cover the pan and allow it to simmer on low flame for 5-7 minutes. When you remove the lid, you will see that rasgullas has swelled up. Switch off the flame and allow it to cool.

10. Delicious and Spongy Rasgullas are ready to serve.